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Objectives: The orientation of the quadriceps femoris can be represented by the quadriceps angle (Q‐angle) has not yet been approved because of the high incidence of patellar instability. In this study, the correlations among components of the quadriceps femoris and the Q‐angle using the plain radiographic technique were assessed. This retrospective study aims to use the radiographic technique to clarify these doubts from anatomic viewpoints. Methods: One hundred consecutive young adult patients (50 men and 50 women; aged, 34 ± 5 and 33 ± 6 years, respectively) who sustained chronic unilateral lower extremity injuries (unilateral femoral, tibial nonunions or malunions) were enrolled. The contralateral intact lower extremity was used for the study. The full‐length standing scanogram (FLSS) was used to evaluate the rectus Q‐angle (R‐Q angle), vastus Q‐angle (V‐Q angle), and clinical Q‐angle (C‐Q angle; i.e., known as the Q‐angle). The three Q‐angles were compared statistically. The Mann–Whitney U test and the Kruskal–Wallis test were used for comparison among groups. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the degree of relationship between two groups. Results: The C‐Q angle or the V‐Q angle was statistically different from the R‐Q angle (p < 0.001). The C‐Q angle between sexes was not different (p = 0.25). High correlation occurred among the C‐Q angle, the R‐Q angle, and the V‐Q angles (correlation coefficient, 0.886–0.979). The multiple linear regression revealed of C‐Q angle = 0.72; R‐Q angle, p < 0.001 + 0.21; and V‐Q angle, (p = 0.009) + 2.61° in 100 patients. Conclusion: Orientation of the quadriceps femoris can be represented by the Q‐angle. Compared to the rectus femoris, the three vastus muscles of the quadriceps femoris are more correlated to the Q‐angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Little is known about the effects of interventions for elderly patients with hip fracture in Asian countries, particularly beyond the short term. Methods. Outcomes (service utilization, clinical outcomes, self-care ability, and depressive symptoms) were assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Self-care ability (ability to perform activities of daily living [ADLs]), was measured by the Chinese Barthel Index. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Chinese Geriatric Depression Scale, short form. Results. The experimental group (n = 80) had a significantly better ADL trajectory than the control group (n = 82) during the 1st year after discharge (p = .002). More participants in the experimental group than in the control group recovered their previous walking ability both at 6 months (81% vs 58%, respectively) and 12 months (84% vs 66%, respectively) after discharge. Overall, the odds ratio for the experimental group recovering their previous walking ability was 2.72 (p < .001) compared to the control group. The experimental group had significantly fewer depressive symptoms than the control group during the 1st year following discharge (p = .004). Conclusion. An interdisciplinary intervention for hip fracture with a discharge support component benefited elderly persons with hip fracture by improving both self-care ability and walking ability, and by decreasing depressive symptoms during the 1st year after hospital discharge. Key Words: Depressive symptoms--Hip fracture--Interdisciplinary intervention--Self-care ability--Walking ability.