Pauwel's angle
Pauwel's Angle
Pauwel's Angle (pronunciation: pow-els angle) is a significant term in the field of Orthopedics and Radiology. It is a measurement used to determine the severity of a hip fracture and to predict the likelihood of fracture displacement.
Etymology
The term is named after Ferdinand Pauwels, a Belgian Orthopedic Surgeon, who introduced this concept in the early 20th century.
Definition
Pauwel's Angle is defined as the angle between the line drawn along the fracture plane and the horizontal line drawn along the distal femoral shaft in the coronal plane on an anteroposterior radiograph of the hip.
Clinical Significance
The greater the Pauwel's Angle, the higher the shear forces acting on the fracture site. This increases the risk of fracture displacement and non-union, thereby influencing the choice of treatment.
- Pauwel's Angle < 30 degrees: Low shear stress, less likely to displace.
- Pauwel's Angle > 50 degrees: High shear stress, more likely to displace.
Related Terms
- Garden's Classification: A system used to classify femoral neck fractures based on the angle of the fracture line (Pauwel's Angle).
- Shear Stress: A type of stress that occurs when parallel forces act upon an object, such as a hip fracture.
- Femoral Neck Fracture: A type of hip fracture that Pauwel's Angle helps to assess.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Pauwel's angle
- Wikipedia's article - Pauwel's angle
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