Bryant's triangle

Last reviewed 01/2018

This is constructed with the patient supine as a rough means of detecting disturbance of the normal anatomy of the femoral head and neck. It is a right-angled triangle, with the following sides:

A. A straight line connecting the greater trochanter of the femur with the anterior superior iliac spine;

B. A vertical line down from the anterior superior iliac spine towards the bed;

C. A horizontal line starting at the greater trochanter, and meeting side B.

The length of C is gauged on each side, and the sides compared. Pathology of the femoral head or neck which displaces the greater trochanter will tend to shorten this side of the triangle.