A study of sagittal pelvic diameters and their variations with advancing age in Gujarati female population by reformatted computed tomography

Abstract

CONTEXT: Pelvic diameters are found to be race and age dependent. Gradual horizontalization of sacrum with the advancement of age causes changes in the sagittal pelvic diameters. AIMS: The aim of the present study is to derive values of sagittal pelvic diameters in Gujarati females, analyze these data to find out changes with regard to the age, and compare the same with other studies. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was an observational, retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 100 stored abdominopelvic computed tomography (CT) scan images were used for the present study. Pelvic parameters were analyzed on reformatted three-dimensional CT images. Sagittal diameters of inlets including anatomical, obstetric, and diagonal conjugate and at level of the pelvic cavity and pelvic outlet were measured. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Medcalc version 14 was used for statistical analysis. Data were compared and analyzed to determine the significance of difference between the two age groups. RESULTS: Mean ± standard deviation of anatomical conjugate was 11.07 ± 1.12 cm, obstetric conjugate was 11.00 ± 1.13 cm, diagonal conjugate was 12.04 ± 1.05 cm, pelvic cavity was 11.53 ± 0.86 cm, outlet at the level of lower end of sacrum was 10.56 ± 0.82 cm, and outlet at the level of tip of coccyx was 8.97 ± 0.99 cm. These parameters analyzed with regard to the age showed that the sagittal diameters at level of inlet decrease with increasing age and at level of cavity and outlet increase with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS: The present study concluded that various sagittal pelvic diameters vary in different races and populations. All the sagittal pelvic diameters show changes with increase in age, but changes in pelvic inlet diameters are found to be more significant.