International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences | February 2021 | Vol 9 | Issue 2 Page 494 International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences Gupta R et al. Int J Res Med Sci. 2021 Feb;9(2):494-497 www.msjonline.org pISSN 2320-6071 | eISSN 2320-6012 Original Research Article Clinical measurement of intermalleolar distance in Western Indian population Renu Gupta*, Ashish Kumar Nayyar, Surajit Ghatak INTRODUCTION At any orthopedic clinic, angular malformations around the knee are one of the common presentations. Determining which of these are pathological often cause apprehension in the population, although most of these conditions are commonly benign and self-limiting. Intermalleolar distance is the distance between the two medial malleoli of the ankles keeping the femoral condyles touching each other and is an important anthropometric tool while assessing the angular status of the lower limb. 1,2 In classifying individuals in a population as having genu valgum (knock-knees), genu varus (bowed legs) or normal limbs, the intermalleolar measurement is commonly used in the orthopaedic practice. The determination of individuals as having valgus or varus deformity assumes significance in recruitment into armed forces and para-military forces. Lateral femoral neck anteversion coupled with lateral tibial torsion leads to Genu valgum (knock-knee). 3 This structural nonconformity causes abnormal lateral stress on the patella so that legs are bent inward in the upright position. In those instances where both the knees are touching, then ankles also touch. However in a person with knock-knee, the knees typically touch each other but ankles remain separated by a distance. Occurrence of Genu valgum or Knock-knee may be physiological or pathological. 4,5 Physiological genu valgum is often seen in children younger than six years and gets resolved by age six. Pathological genu valgum is seen to occur in adolescent and adults and may be acquired or congenital. Acquired genu valgum may be caused due to infectious diseases like polio, maltreated (or untreated) traumatic injuries of the lower limb. Congenital genu valgum may be due to genetic disorders like Down’s syndrome, Marfan syndrome, hereditary multiple exostoses, neurofibromatosis and untreated congenital abnormalities. Department of Anatomy, AIIMS Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India Received: 27 November 2020 Accepted: 31 December 2020 *Correspondence: Dr. Renu Gupta, E-mail: drrenu.gupta79@gmail.com Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20210430 ABSTRACT Background: Angular deformities around the knee are one of the common basis of presentation at orthopaedic clinic and intermalleolar distance (IMD) is an essential anthropometric tool for evaluation of the angular status of the lower limb. Methods: 500 healthy (330 male and 170 female) subjects between 20 to 40 years of age were taken for IMD measurement in standing and supine position by digital vernier caliper. Results: The normal range of IMD in western Indian population in between 32-58 mm. IMD in standing position was 42.47 mm with (95% CI = 40.51 to 44.42 mm) and in supine position was 34.45 mm with (95% CI = 32.78 to 36.13 mm). Mean IMD in male in standing position was 40.01 mm while in female it was 43.74 mm observed. Statically significant difference was observed in posture change and according to age. Conclusions: Significantly higher value in female, in standing position and in higher age group were observed. Keywords: Intermalleolar distance, Standing position, Supine position, Western Indian population