the correlation between q-angle (clinical) and tttgdistance (axial computed thomography) in firuzgar hospital, 2008

abstract   background: the purpose of this study was to evaluate the significance of the q angle with respect to the patella position. we assess the correlation between the q angles (calculated by clinical exam) in different positions and ct indices (with more impression on tttg).   method: atotal number of 68 knee joints of 50 cases entered the study. clinical examination was used to measure q angle (in 3 positions of sitting, standing and supine). ct scan performed in 2 axial view of proximal tibia, and distal femor for measurement of tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove distance (tttg) and other ct indices. correlation between main variables calculated.and analysed with spss.   results: supine q angle were strongly correlated with standing q angles and moderately with sitting q angle. sitting q angle was moderately correlated with supine and standing q angle and weakly with pta. we found no other significant correlation between q angle and ct indexes.   discussion: our findings suggest that q angle is not a valuable index for predicting the presence of patelofemoral malalignment.