The alignment relationship of femur to tibia when weight-bearing.
Long-leg weightbearing X-rays allowing measurement of the distance between the mechanical axis (yellow) and the anatomical axis (blue). Both lines should pass through the centre of the knee joint.
Alignment problems
Alignment problems may lead to bowing (varus deformity) or knock-knees (valgus deformity).
Synonyms:
limb alignment
-
Dr Sheila Strover (Editor) BSc (Hons), MB BCh, MBA
