Assessment of Increased Quadriceps Angle as a Risk Factor for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Hospital-based case-control study
PubMed 41789040 · doi:10.4103/jwas.jwas_152_24
What was done
A hospital-based case-control study evaluated 56 adult Black patients divided into two matched groups (cases with ACL injury vs. uninjured controls). Q angles were measured in both knees using a surface goniometry measurement protocol in both standing and supine positions. Means were compared between groups using independent sample t-tests.
What was found
The ACL-injured group had statistically significantly greater mean Q angles compared to the non-injured group in both positions: - Standing: 12.73 ± 1.5° vs. 11.40 ± 1.5° (P < 0.001) - Supine: 12.32 ± 1.2° vs. 11.07 ± 1.4° (P < 0.001)
Why it matters
The findings demonstrate an anatomical association between increased Q angle and ACL injury in this cohort, which may help identify candidates for targeted injury prevention programs.
Limits
The sample size is small (56 participants) and the case-control design demonstrates association rather than prospective causality. Surface goniometry has inherent measurement error compared to radiographic imaging, and specific matching variables or sex distributions were not detailed in the abstract.