Healthy Caucasian knee anatomy and function database

An Analysis of Healthy Caucasian Knees: Variability in Threedimensional Anatomy, Mediolateral Ligamentous Balance, Lower Limb Alignment and Trabecular Micro-structure.

This project will collect high-resolution CT, weightbearing full-leg X-rays (EOS), and ultrasound tests from healthy 20–35 year-old people of European/Caucasian descent to create a large database of knee anatomy and function.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 200 (estimated)
• Ages: 20 Years to 35 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: radiation
• Locations: 1 site (Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant)
• Trial ID: NCT07470671 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The protocol prospectively acquires photon-counting CT scans of the knee, weightbearing EOS full-leg images, and ultrasound-based functional gap testing in healthy young adults who self-identify as Caucasian/European. These multimodal data will be combined into a single large normative database to characterize constitutional knee anatomy, coronal alignment phenotypes (CPAK), and native mediolateral ligamentous balance. The same dataset will support multiple independent analyses across orthopaedics, radiology, and biomechanical engineering teams aimed at informing anatomical and biomechanical personalization for total knee arthroplasty. Imaging is non-invasive aside from standard radiation exposure from CT and EOS, and participants must meet the study's strict inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal participants are healthy 20–35 year-olds who self-identify as Caucasian or of European descent with fair skin tone, have no prior lower-limb bone or soft-tissue injuries, no open knee wounds, and can attend imaging visits at KU Leuven.

Not a fit: People who are non-Caucasian or have mixed non-European ancestry, have prior knee or lower-limb pathology, are pregnant or unsure of pregnancy status, or cannot travel to Leuven are unlikely to benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the database could provide precise, population-specific anatomical and biomechanical references that help personalize knee replacement surgery and improve patient satisfaction.

How similar studies have performed: Previous work has produced smaller or single-modality normative knee datasets, but combining photon-counting CT, EOS, and ultrasound at this scale in a Caucasian cohort is novel and not yet widely tested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged 20-35 years old.
* 'Caucasian':

  1. Self-identification as Caucasian or of European descent.
  2. Self-identification as having 'fair' skin tone.
  3. Both parents and all grandparents are of Caucasian or European descent.
* Healthy knee and lower limb:

  1. No bony orthopaedic or trauma history in the lower limb (pelvis - foot).
  2. No ligamentary or soft tissue trauma history in the knee.
  3. No ligamentary or soft tissue trauma in the lower limb requiring cast immobilization.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Individuals identifying with a race or ethnicity other than Caucasian or European descent.
* Participants with known mixed racial or ethnic backgrounds that include non-Caucasian ancestry.
* Participant uncertainty of pregnancy status.
* Open wounds over the knee joint.

Where this trial is running

Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant

• Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven — Leuven, Vlaams-Brabant, Belgium (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Lennart Scheys, Prof. Ir. — Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven
• Study coordinator: Lennart Scheys, Prof. Ir.

Conditions Healthy Volunteers; Healthy Caucasian knees