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GEOMETRIC MEASUREMENTS OF THE ACETABULUM IN ADULT MALAWIANS: RADIOGRAPHIC STUDY
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To determine the acetabular depth as well as acetabular and centre edge
angles; to assess the influence of sex, if any, in these geometric measurements; and to
determine the prevalence of hip dysplasia in adult Malawians.
Design: A retrospective study.
Setting: Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) and Blantyre Adventist Hospital
(BAH).
Main outcome measures: The acetabular and centre edge angles, acetabular depth and
the prevalence of hip dysplasia were determined.
Materials and methods: Two hundred and fifty three bilateral radiographs of the hip
from adults, 133 men and 129 women, were used to measure the acetabular depth, angle
and centre edge angle using a calliper and goniometer. The radiographs were taken
from patients with no underlying bone disease between January 1997 and February
2001 at QECH and BAH.
Results: The prevalence of hip dysplasia was 11.54% for men and 13.16% for women
with respect to centre edge angles but this difference by sex was not significant (P>0.1).
However, the prevalence of hip dysplasia with respect to centre edge angle showed
significantly more dysplasia in Malawian men than Nigerian and Chinese men (P<0.001
and P<0.05, respectively). Centre edge angles also showed a wider range in Malawian
men (19 - 51° right, and 15 - 52° left) than women (18 - 45° right, 20 - 46° left). In
both hips, the acetabular angles were more obtuse in men (35.52° right, 34.21° left)
than women (29.43° right, 29.29° left), and this difference was significant (P<0.001).
The ranges of acetabular angles were wider in women (11 - 38° right, 8 - 40° left)
than men (24 - 49° right, 20 - 40° left). Acetabular depth was also greater in men than
in women (P<0.01 right hip, P<0.02 left hip).
Conclusion: Sex influences geometrical measurements of the acetabulum. The prevalence
of hip dysplasia with respect to centre edge angle was significantly higher in women than
men and the prevalence for men with respect to centre edge angle was significantly different
when compared with Nigerian and Chinese men. This information will assist clinicians
in the region and Malawi in particular to interpret hip X-rays of African patients.
Objectives: To determine the acetabular depth as well as acetabular and centre edge
angles; to assess the influence of sex, if any, in these geometric measurements; and to
determine the prevalence of hip dysplasia in adult Malawians.
Design: A retrospective study.
Setting: Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) and Blantyre Adventist Hospital
(BAH).
Main outcome measures: The acetabular and centre edge angles, acetabular depth and
the prevalence of hip dysplasia were determined.
Materials and methods: Two hundred and fifty three bilateral radiographs of the hip
from adults, 133 men and 129 women, were used to measure the acetabular depth, angle
and centre edge angle using a calliper and goniometer. The radiographs were taken
from patients with no underlying bone disease between January 1997 and February
2001 at QECH and BAH.
Results: The prevalence of hip dysplasia was 11.54% for men and 13.16% for women
with respect to centre edge angles but this difference by sex was not significant (P>0.1).
However, the prevalence of hip dysplasia with respect to centre edge angle showed
significantly more dysplasia in Malawian men than Nigerian and Chinese men (P<0.001
and P<0.05, respectively). Centre edge angles also showed a wider range in Malawian
men (19 - 51° right, and 15 - 52° left) than women (18 - 45° right, 20 - 46° left). In
both hips, the acetabular angles were more obtuse in men (35.52° right, 34.21° left)
than women (29.43° right, 29.29° left), and this difference was significant (P<0.001).
The ranges of acetabular angles were wider in women (11 - 38° right, 8 - 40° left)
than men (24 - 49° right, 20 - 40° left). Acetabular depth was also greater in men than
in women (P<0.01 right hip, P<0.02 left hip).
Conclusion: Sex influences geometrical measurements of the acetabulum. The prevalence
of hip dysplasia with respect to centre edge angle was significantly higher in women than
men and the prevalence for men with respect to centre edge angle was significantly different
when compared with Nigerian and Chinese men. This information will assist clinicians
in the region and Malawi in particular to interpret hip X-rays of African patients.
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