Morphology and Morphometry of the Acetabulum

Funda TAŞTEKİN AKSU Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Anatomi Anabilim Dalı 35340 İnciraltı, İZMIR Tel: (232) 4124361 e-posta: [email protected] SUMMARY Acetabulum is a hemispherical cavity on the medial part of the hip joint. Anterior acetabular ridge’s morphology is clinically important during total hip arthroplasty. Additionally the depth and diameter of the acetabulum are important during surgical treatment of acetabular fractures. Objective of this study is to determine the relationship between the acetabular depth and diameter. Additionally to describe the anterior acetabular ridge’s morphology that can be useful for diagnosing congenital acetabular dysplasia and during acetabular surgery. Material and method: This study was conducted on 154 os coxae. Two morphometrical and one morphological parameters were evaluated. The distance between the acetabular ridge nearest to body of ischium and anterior iliac margin intersecting the acetabular ridge was named as acetabular diameter. The distance between the deepest point of acetabular cavity and the horizontal plane touching the acetabular edges was named as acetabular depth. We evaluated the anterior acetabular ridge’s shape morphologically and classified them as follows (irregular, curved, straight and angular). Correlation between morphometrical parameters were investigated using Pearson’s test. p<0.05 was the significant level. Results: Regarding to anterior acetabular ridge shape morphology; the majority was curved 71 (46,1 %), 36 (23,3 %) were straight, 26 (16,8 %) were angular and 21 (13,6 %) were irregular. The mean values for the acetabular depth and diameter were 29.49 ± 4.2 mm and 54.29 ± 3.8 mm respectively. Positive and significant correlation was found between the depth and the diameter of the acetabulum (r = 0.498 p < 0.001). Conclusion: Depth of acetabulum correlates with acetabular diameter. Most common acetabular shape is curved (46.1 %). These information may be helpful during hip arthroplasty, treatment of hip joint fractures and in diagnosing congenital hip dysplasia.