Evolution of the term "epicondyle of the femur": Revisiting the anatomical and surgical literature.
Keishiro KikuchiGerrit T HollemanJuan J CardonaEmma R LesserChung Yoh KimKosuke TabuchiKoichi WatanabeJoe IwanagaRichard Shane TubbsPublished in: Clinical anatomy (New York, N.Y.) (2024)
The femoral epicondyle is an anatomical bony landmark essential for surgeons and anatomists, but there are discrepancies between the two fields when using this term. In current orthopedic surgery, it commonly denotes the small bony prominence of the femoral condyle. Given the derivation, "epicondyle" should be a region projecting laterally from the articular surface rather than a point. These discrepancies in usage are found not only between the fields but also in the literature. This article reviews the narrative definition of "epicondyle of the femur" in surgery and the evolution of the term in anatomy. The outcomes of the review suggest a relationship between the differing perceptions of the epicondyle and the evolution of the term. In reports of studies related to the epicondyle, it is strongly recommended that the definition of the word is clearly stated, with an understanding of its evolution.
Keyphrases
- body composition
- bone mineral density
- preterm infants
- minimally invasive
- gestational age
- systematic review
- coronary artery bypass
- healthcare
- primary care
- emergency department
- surgical site infection
- quality improvement
- coronary artery disease
- adipose tissue
- preterm birth
- skeletal muscle
- postmenopausal women
- drug induced
- endoscopic submucosal dissection