The femoral groove is the concave region at the lower end of the femur.
Page updated January 2024 by Dr Sheila Strover (Clinical Editor)
Relationship of patella to trochlear groove
The groove helps to keep the patella within its walls as the knee bends and straightens, so that the patella does not sublux or dislocate.
Trochlear dysplasia
In some people the groove may be abnormally flat at the upper end, or may even be a bump rather than a groove, making it easy for the patella to jump up and out of this constraint - subluxation or dislocation.
Quick links
Peer-reviewed papers
-
Quote:
"Dysplasia of the femoral trochlea is a major predisposing factor for instability of the patellofemoral joint."
Citation: Fahlbusch H, Krivec L, Müller S, Reiter A, Frosch KH, Krause M. Arthrofibrosis is a common but poorly defined complication in multiligament knee injuries: a systematic review. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2023 Aug;143(8):5117-5132. doi: 10.1007/s00402-022-04730-9. Epub 2022 Dec 15. PMID: 36520199; PMCID: PMC10374851.