title: Anatomical landmarks regarding sacrospinous colpopexy operations performed for vaginal vault prolapse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the anatomical relationships of the structures and the topographic anatomy of the sacrospinous ligament and validate current anatomic knowledge of this area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine embalmed half female cadaver pelvises were dissected to reveal the anatomy of the sacrospinous ligament.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average length of the sacrospinous ligament was measured to be 43.04 +/- 6.58 mm. The inferior gluteal complex emerges from the infrapiriform foramen at a distance of 17.02 +/- 3.08 mm from the ischial spine and courses to inferior-laterally with a slight curve. During this course, it passes close to the upper-lateral half of the sacrospinous ligament. The pudendal complex passes above the spine in six of the nine cases (66.6%) and lies maximum of 5.5 mm medial to the spine. On average the sciatic nerve is measured to be 25.14 +/- 3.94 mm lateral to the ischial spine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Placing the suture inferomedially and close to sacrum, the risk of complication will be minimal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Kirikkale University, Ankara, Turkey. nsagsoz@isbank.net.tr
authors.forename: Nevin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sagsoz
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ersoy
authors.forename: Mansur
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kamaci
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tekdemir
mesh_terms: D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation; D012447:Sacrum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina