title: Sexual Dimorphism of Acetabular Anatomy Based on Three-dimensional Computed Tomography Image of Pelvises.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study aimed to compare sex differences in the morphology and spatial orientation of pelvic acetabula to advance the understanding of hip anatomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was based on three-dimensional reconstructions of computed tomography images of 50 female and 50 male acetabula. The images were used for spatial analysis of hip acetabula relative to the base of the sacral bone as the plane of reference. Statistical analysis was performed to compare angles relevant to the actual axis of the acetabulum (inclination angle, anteversion angle, tilt angle) as well as the volume and inner surface area of the acetabulum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the inclination and tilt angles of the acetabulum did not differ significantly between the groups, the respective values being: 68.61° and 26.53° in females and 70.56° and 30.19° in males (p>0.05). The anteversion angle was significantly larger for female acetabula (38.27° compared to 32.05° in men, with p=0.0008), while the volume and the inner surface area were significantly smaller in women (p=0.0007 and 0.0001 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1. Acetabular orientation is sex-specific, with female acetabula being more forward-oriented than those of men. 2. The volume and inner surface area of acetabula also differ between the sexes, being smaller in women. 3. Regardless of the plane of reference, sexual dimorphism of the acetabulum is constant. 4. Awareness of the above sex-dependent differences is necessary for preoperative planning before orthopaedic surgeries (such as hip arthroplasty or operative treatment of FAI).
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Musielak
authors.affiliation: Division of Virtual Engineering, Institute of Combustion Engines and Transport, Poznań University of Technology, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rychlik
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jóźwiak
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed