Blumensaat's line explained

Blumensaat's line is a line which corresponds to the roof of the intercondylar fossa of femur as seen on a lateral radiograph of the knee joint.^[1] The angle at which this line appears on the radiograph can be used to determine the position of the patella or diagnose an ACL injury.^[2]

Clinical Use

On a normal radiograph, the line intersects the inferior pole of the patella, and so can be useful in diagnosing a broken femur as well as a patellar tendon rupture.

It also helps to define "Schottle point" intra-operatively for reconstruction of MPFL(Medial patello-femoral ligament.)^[3]

It may also be used to describe the course of an ACL graft.

Notes and References

1. Die Lageabweichungen und Verrenkungen der Kniescheibe . Blumensaat, C . Ergebnisse der Chirurgie und Orthopedie . 1938 . 31 . 149–223.
2. Web site: Blumensaat line Radiology Reference Article Radiopaedia.org. radiopaedia.org. 2015-12-10.
3. McCarthy. Mark. Ridley. TJ. Bollier. Matthew. Wolf. Brian. Albright. John. Amendola. Annunziato. 2013. Femoral Tunnel Placement in Medial Patellofemoral Ligament Reconstruction. The Iowa Orthopaedic Journal. 33. 58–63. 1541-5457. 3748893. 24027462.