Abstract
The purpose of this study was to find out the best, standard method for X-ray projection in skyline view radiography of the patello-femoral joint. The materials which we used in this studies were 100 anatomical specimens of the patella and the femur, and the knee joint X-ray films of 330 patients with various diseases. Primarily, the anatomical individualities of the patella and the femur were studied. Then, secondarily, we determined the radiographical standard for X-ray projection of the patello-femoral joint considering its biomechanical function. "The anterior axis of the patella" and "the knee-greater trochanter axis" were found to be the most reliable axes in standard X-ray projection to obtain the best skyline view. The advantages to use these two axes as parameters in theskyline view were in grasping the inclination and position of the patella in various flexion angles of the knee exactly, in the radiographic procedure, in obtaining a high correlation to the axis of the central groove of the femoral patellar suiface, and rmakeit easier to obtain a constant direction of X-ray beam against the patello-femoral joint. The methods of our skyline view radiography in supine and standing positions were described in detail.
