title: Assessment of the variability in the dimensions of the intact pelvic canal in South Africans: A pilot study.
abstract: Cephalopelvic disproportion is common among Africans and is a major cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. As the dimensions of the pelvis may vary between populations and according to stature and age, they need to be considered during childbirth and also in the planning and performance of pelvic and perineal procedures. The aim of this study was to assess the possible variations in the dimensions of the intact pelvic canal in South Africans and their implications. Eighty intact cadaver pelves, belonging to 40 white South Africans (20 males and 20 females) and 40 black South Africans (20 males and 20 females) were used for both metric and geometric morphometric analyses. Pelvic inlet shapes did not differ significantly between groups but pelvic inlet and midpelvic dimensions were the greatest in white South Africans and females. The pubic symphyseal length was the greatest in white males and the smallest in black females, resulting in a smaller pelvic cavity anteriorly than for white females. Pelvic outlet shapes varied significantly between sexes in white South Africans and between white and black males. Females presented with the greatest dimensions. Black South African females presented with an elongated anteroposterior outlet diameter. Certain transverse pelvic diameters correlated positively with age in white males and with height in females. In planning childbirth options, the smaller pelvic inlet of black females and stature-dependent diameters should be considered. Pelvic and perineal surgery may be technically more challenging because of smaller pelvic dimensions in black South Africans, especially in males.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x323, Arcadia, Pretoria 0007, South Africa. Electronic address: suvasha.jagesur@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jagesur
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x323, Arcadia, Pretoria 0007, South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiid
authors.affiliation: Department of Actuarial Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pretorius
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x323, Arcadia, Pretoria 0007, South Africa.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bosman
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Private Bag x323, Arcadia, Pretoria 0007, South Africa.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Oettlé
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People; D052178:Cephalopelvic Disproportion / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010387:Pelvimetry; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D013019:South Africa; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Midpelvis; Pelvic canal; Pelvic inlet; Pelvic outlet; Shape analysis