title: Normal pelvic dimensions for Saudi Arabian women in Tabuk obtained by computed tomography pelvimetry.
abstract: Good obstetric management is based on knowledge of the normal parameters of one's patient population and this is particularly true regarding the pelvis and labor. There is little information in the literature describing the normal values of the Saudi female pelvis. Computed tomography (CT) pelvimetry offers reliable assessment of the pelvis while only exposing the patient to about one-third the radiation of conventional x-rays. Ninety-four Saudi women were recruited who were having CT pelvimetry performed for a variety of reasons other than suspected pelvic contraction and the principal diameters measured. Significance was determined by computerized unpaired t-test and ascribed to P values <0.05. The measurements obtained confirm that the Saudi pelvis is platypellic in configuration but shares some of the features of the rachitic pelvis. It is possible that this is related to osteomalacia which has a proven prevalence of 21% in the population under study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, North West Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: English
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alcoair