Morphometric Evaluation of the Iliac Crest in Dry Human Hip Bones: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: The human bony skeleton comprises the appendicular and axial skeletons. The hip bone is a part of the appendicular skeleton. This massive bone is formed by the fusion of three individual bones: the ilium, ischium, and pubis. These three parts unite at the acetabulum to form the hip joint. The need for present study lies in its potential to aid clinicians in reconstructive surgeries and bone graft procedures, particularly in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Aim: To evaluate detailed morphometric parameters of the iliac crest along with important bony distances related to the iliac crest. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 dry adult hip bones (25 right and 25 left) of unknown sex, obtained from the Department of Anatomy, SGT Medical College, SGT University, Gurugram, Haryana. The thickness of the iliac crest was measured at three distinct points: the most anterior point, the midpoint, and the most posterior point. These measurements were recorded for both right and left hip bones to ensure a comprehensive morphometric analysis. The range and mean with standard deviation of all parameters were calculated and presented in tabulated form. Observations were recorded separately for the right and left sides, along with t-values. Statistical significance was determined using a p-value of less than 0.05. Results: At the most anterior point, the right side showed a mean±SD (Standard Deviation) thickness of 10.2±6 mm, while the left side showed a mean of 8.3±4.2 mm (p=0.06). At the midpoint, the right side had a mean of 7.6±6.2 mm and the left side had a mean of 7.8±4.4 mm (p=0.08). At the most posterior point, the right side showed a mean of 10±6.3 mm and the left side had a mean of 12±3.1 mm (p=0.2). Conclusion: The present study examined morphometric parameters of the iliac crest, including various critical bony distances, to provide an accurate and detailed anatomical description of both sides of the hip bone in the North Indian population. These findings may be beneficial for clinicians and reconstructive surgeons, particularly during bone graft procurement, which is commonly utilised in the treatment of osteonecrosis of the femoral head.