The primary ossification of the human fetal ischium: CT, digital-image analysis, and statistics

Mariusz Baumgart,Mateusz Badura,Marcin Wiśniewski,Magdalena Grzonkowska,Michał Szpinda,Katarzyna Pawlak-Osińska

doi:10.1007/s00276-018-2171-5

Mariusz Baumgart, Mateusz Badura + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-018-2171-5

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Abstract

PurposesDetails concerning the normal growth of the pelvic girdle in the fetus are of importance in the early detection of congenital defects. This study was executed to quantitatively evaluate the primary ossification center of the ischium with relation to its linear, planar and volumetric parameters.Materials and methodsUsing methods of CT, digital-image analysis, and statistics, geometrical dimensions of the ischium’s primary ossification center in 42 spontaneously aborted human fetuses (21 ♂ and 21 ♀) aged 18–30 weeks were calculated.ResultsWith no sex and laterality differences, the best fit growth dynamics for the ischium’s primary ossification center were displayed by the following functions: y = − 10.045 + 0.742 × age ± 0.013 (R2 = 0.97) for its vertical diameter, y = − 5.212 + 0.385 × age ± 0.008 (R2 = 0.97) for its sagittal diameter, y = − 36.401 + 0.122 × (age)2 ± 45.534 (R2 = 0.96) for its projection surface area, and y = − 1052.840 + 368.470 × ln(age) ± 12.705 (R2 = 0.91) for its volume.ConclusionsNeither male–female nor right–left differences are found for any of the morphometric parameters of the ischium’s primary ossification center. With relation to fetal ages in weeks, the ischium’s primary ossification center grows proportionately in vertical and sagittal diameters, second-degree polynomially in projection surface area, and logarithmically in volume. The quantitative findings of the ischium’s primary ossification center are considered age-specific reference data of relevance in the diagnostics of innate defects.

Highlights

The coxal bone consists of three parts: the ilium, ischium, and pubis, which are separated from each other by cartilage
The fusion of primary ossification centers of three components of the pelvic bone initially refers to the ischium and pubis [19], at birth, the ischium is still separated from the pubis by the ischiopubic synchondrosis [14]
The sample population consisted of 42 human fetuses (21 males and 21 females) aged 18–30 weeks, originating from spontaneous miscarriages or preterm deliveries

Summary

Introduction

The coxal bone consists of three parts: the ilium, ischium, and pubis, which are separated from each other by cartilage. As late as at the age of 16–18 years, these three bones fuse onto one coxal bone and contribute to a socket of the hip joint, i.e., the acetabulum. The fusion of primary ossification centers of three components of the pelvic bone initially refers to the ischium and pubis [19], at birth, the ischium is still separated from the pubis by the ischiopubic synchondrosis [14]. The age at which this synchondrosis tends to ossify occurs as late as 4–12 years [14]. Such an ossification process is initiated by the fusion of the ischial ramus and the inferior pubic ramus to form the ischiopubic ramus, while the fusion within the acetabulum starts during puberty [18]. The secondary ossification centers of the pelvic bone refer to the iliac crest, anterior inferior

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