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A New Concept of Indexing Tibiofibular Torsion

A Pilot Study Using Dry Bones

Kotaro Tamari, BA, PT ^*, Paul Tinley, PhD , Kathryn Briffa, PhD, PT ^* and Sally Raine, PhD 

^* School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia.
School of Community Health, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia.
Hammond Worthington, Lawyers, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

Corresponding author: Kotaro Tamari, BA, PT, School of Physiotherapy, Curtin University of Technology, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia.

Abstract

A newly developed clinical method of indexing tibial torsion uses the medial surface of the tibia as the proximal reference; however, the selection of a specific landmark on the medial surface has not been justified. Three different surfaces relating to the tibial tuberosity were tested using 24 dry tibial bones to determine which provides the most accurate and reliable landmark for use as the proximal reference. The medial surface of the tibia at the inferior point of the tibial tuberosity was the most reliable proximal reference that yielded the highest level of association between the newly developed clinical method and true tibial torsion (r = 0.77). The new method has the potential to describe the anatomy of the leg and to improve the clinical measurement of tibiofibular torsion. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 95(5): 481–485, 2005)