Variation of the obturator foramen and pubic arch of the female bony pelvis

Ridgeway, Beri M. MD
Arias, Beatriz E. MD
Barber, Matthew D. MD, MHS

Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.

Reprints: Beri Ridgeway, MD, Gynecology, Obstetrics, and Women's Health, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave, Desk A81, Cleveland, OH 44195. [email protected]

Cite this article as: Ridgeway BM, Arias BE, Barber MD. Variation of the obturator foramen and pubic arch of the female bony pelvis. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008;198:546.e1-546.e4.

This research was presented at the 28th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urogynecologic Society, Hollywood, FL, Sept. 27-29, 2007.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 198(5):p 546e1-546e4, May 2008.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine dimensions of the obturator foramen and pubic arch of the female pelvis and to assess for variability.

STUDY DESIGN

Ninety-six female pelvises were selected from the Cleveland Natural History Museum. The obturator foramen area, pubic arch angle, pubic ramus, pubic symphysis, and anterior urogenital triangle area were measured. Linear regression was used to evaluate independent associations.

RESULTS

There was considerable variability of the bony architecture. The mean obturator foramen area was 12.2 ± 2.1 cm² (range, 7.38-18.22 cm²). After controlling for height, the pubic ramus width, pubic symphysis length, and interobturator foramina distance were significantly greater in European American women compared with African American women. Obturator foramen area increased with increasing height (P = .0008) but was not associated with race.

CONCLUSION

There is considerable variability in the bony architecture of the obturator foramen and pubic arch of the female pelvis. Race and height may account for some of these variabilities.