Haben Frauen wirklich häufiger X- und Männer O-Beine?

The human leg axis changes in the course of life. Age-specific normal values are relevant for the diagnosis of pathologies and their treatment. However, it is not only age but also the gender that influences the leg axis.

Do women really have more valgus legs and man more varus legs?

A review of the literature was performed. Furthermore, 713 healthy legs were analyzed using whole-leg radiographs from the authors’ own population, including 336 male and 337 female legs. The measured angles were analyzed using Excel (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA) and PSPP software (GNU Project).

The literature confirms a tendency towards genua valga in Caucasian women and the increased frequency of genua vara in men, although there are differences regarding the significance of the differences. The present patient collective showed an overall axis of 0.6° varus, with a significant difference between women with 0.3° in valgus and men with 1.7° in varus. The mean mLDFA (mechanical lateral distal femoral angle) was 88° (85–91°) and the mMPTA (mechanical medial proximal tibial angle) was 88° (86–90°), with only a significant difference in the mMPTA between the two sexes.

The myth of genu valgum in women seems to be a slight tendency, with a mostly straight axis. There is a significant difference between the sexes, especially with a raised varus axis in men.