The sourcil roundness index is a useful measure for quantifying acetabular concavity asphericity

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the clinical utility of the sourcil roundness index (SRI), a novel index for quantifying the asphericity of the acetabular concavity, by determining (1) the difference in the SRI between dysplastic and normal hips and (2) the correlation between the SRI and radiographic parameters of hip dysplasia. We reviewed standing anteroposterior pelvic radiographs of 109 dysplastic and 40 normal hips. The SRI was determined as the ratio of the distance from the medial edge of the sourcil to the most concave point of the acetabular sourcil (A) to the distance from the medial to the lateral edge of the sourcil (B). The formula for SRI is (A/B) × 100–50 (%), with an SRI of 0% indicating a perfectly spherical acetabulum, and higher SRI values indicating a more aspherical shape. The median SRI was greater in patients with hip dysplasia than in normal hips (5.9% vs. − 1.4%; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the median SRI was greater in the severe dysplasia subgroup (18.9%) than in the moderate (3.5%) and borderline-to-mild (− 1.3%) dysplasia subgroups (p < 0.05). Quantification of acetabular concavity asphericity by the SRI showed that dysplastic hips had a more lateral acetabular concave point than normal hips, and that the severity of hip dysplasia had an effect on the acetabular concavity asphericity.