Acetabulum-Morphological and Morphometrical Study

ABSTRACT Acetabulum is a cup shaped depression on the outer surface of constricted central part of hip bone. All three innominate elements that is ilium, ischium, and pubis contribute to the acetabulum in human beings but unequally. Its central part called acetabular fossa is surrounded by a curved lunate articular surface for articulation with head of femur. This study is to document the relationship between the depth and diameter of acetabulum which will help the orthopedic surgeons for better alignment of acetabular cup placement during total hip arthroplasty. Also to describe the anterior acetabular ridge morphology that can be useful for diagnosing congenital acetabular dysplasia and during treatment of hip joint fractures. 100 human adult unpaired dry hip bones (50 right and 50 left) of unknown age and sex were assessed in the department of Anatomy Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute Puducherry and from Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Sciences Sikkim. Two morphometrical and Morphological parameters were evaluated. The data of diameter and depth of the acetabulum was taken by digital sliding caliper. Correlation between morphometry parameters were analysed using Pearson's test. We also evaluated the anterior acetabular ridge's shape morphologically and classified them as follows -Curved, Angular, Straight, and Irregular. The mean values for the acetabular depth and diameter were 28.32+1.32mm and 50.99+1.99mm respectively. Positive and significant correlation was found between the depth and the diameter of the acetabulum (r=0.416 p<0.001). Regarding anterior acetabular ridge shape morphology; the majority were curved 60(60%), 27(27%) were angular, 9 (9%) were irregular, 4 (4%) were straight