Comparison of bony dimensions at the level of the pelvic floor in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to compare bony pelvis dimensions at the level of pelvic support in women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP).


METHODS
Pelvic floor dimensions of 42 white women with POP > 1 cm beyond the hymen were compared with 42 age- and parity-matched women with normal support. Bony landmarks relevant to connective tissue and levator attachments were identified on magnetic resonance imaging. Dimensions were independently measured by 2 examiners and averaged for each subject.


RESULTS
Measurements (in centimeters) for patients and control subjects were as follows: interspinous diameter, 11.2 +/- 0.8 versus 11.1 +/- 0.7, P = .19; anterior-posterior outlet diameter, 11.7 +/- 0.7 versus 11.7 +/- 0.8, P = .71; pubic symphysis to ischial spine left, 9.5 +/- 0.5 versus 9.5 +/- 0.4, P = .91; pubic symphysis to ischial spine right, 9.5 +/- 0.4 versus 9.5 +/- 0.5, P = .81; sacrococcygeal junction to ischial spine left, 7.0 +/- 0.6 versus 7.0 +/- 0.5, P = .54; and sacrococcygeal junction to ischial spine right, 7.0 +/- 0.6 versus 6.9 +/- 0.4, P = .32.


CONCLUSIONS
Bony pelvis dimensions are similar at the level of the muscular pelvic floor in white women with and without POP.
Stein
Tamara A
TA
Pelvic Floor Research Group, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI; Division of Anatomical Science, Office of Medical Eduction, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Kaur
Gurpreet
G
Summers
Aimee
A
Larson
Kindra A
KA
DeLancey
John O L
JO
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D009929:Organ Size; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000473:pathology*