| Summary: | The angle of inclination (AOI) is clinically relevant because of a predisposition for congenital femoral dysplasia. While AOI of the femur varies with age, gender, and ontogenetic growth patterns, abnormal AOI conditions increase stress at the hip joint and significantly affect gait. This study examined AOI in three ethnic/racial populations from European, African, and Asian ancestry. An Inuit group dated 500 BCE ‐ 500 CE was sampled from archaeological remains of Ipiutak populations from the osteological collections of the American Museum of Natural History. To measure AOI, a line was drawn from the midpoint of the intercondylar fossa to the greater trochanter projecting proximally through the shaft of the femur, and a second line was drawn from the femoral head to the femoral shaft through the center of the femoral neck; the AOI was defined by the intersection of these two lines. Preliminary results showed significant AOI differences (p < 0.01) found only between the Inuit and European populations. Developmentally, the AOI is widest at infancy and gradually narrows, ending its decline in adulthood. Inuit femurs presented with the greatest AOI of 139 degrees, demonstrating the orthopaedic condition of coxa valga. The fact that these findings suggest a possible increased prevalence of congenital femoral dysplasia in these populations has considerable clinical implications and will require further study. Grant Funding Source N/A
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