MORPHOMETRIC ASSESSMENT OF THE ACETABULUM IN INDIAN SUBJECTS

Abstract

Background: Hip bone is termed as innominate bone as it is made up of three independent elements during sub-adult life and 
has a direct association with childbirth. A deep cup-shaped acetabulum is seen on the lateral surface of the hip bone having 
articulation with the femur. The acetabulum has features characteristic of sexual dimorphism and for prosthesis design in Total 
Hip Arthroplasty. 
Aim: The present study was aimed at morphometric assessment of the acetabulum in Indian subjects 
Methods: 400 acetabula from dried bones were assessed in the study including 100 each for males, females, and right, and 
left acetabulum. The transverse diameter was measured along with the depth of the acetabulum, the total diameter of the 
acetabulum, and the acetabulum superoinferior diameter, and statistical analysis was done.  
Results: On the left side, it was seen that the depth of acetabulum, total acetabular diameter, Superoinferior acetabular 
diameter, and transverse diameter were significantly higher in male subjects with respective p-values of 0.01, <0.01, 0.003, 
and <0.001 respectively. For the right side, the Depth of acetabulum was significantly higher in male subjects compared to 
females with 2.65cm and 2.33 cm respectively with p<0.001. The total acetabular diameter was also significantly higher in 
males at 5.4cm compared to females where it was 4.74 cm with a p-value of <0.001. The depth of acetabulum, total acetabular 
diameter, Superoinferior acetabular diameter, and transverse diameter were significantly higher in male subjects compared to 
females with p<0.001.  
Conclusion: The study concludes that acetabulum study can help radiologists to diagnose congenital hip dysplasia and 
orthopedic surgeon to plan hip joint fracture treatment and acetabulum surgery along with understanding the primary 
osteoarthritis rarity.