MEASURING THE HUMAN PELVIS - A COMPARISON OF DIRECT AND RADIOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES USING A MODERN UNITED-STATES-BASED SAMPLE

Seven measurements were taken on a sample of 50 human cadaveric pelves , all white Texans born in the 20th century. Two separate methodologie s were used to obtain these data: radiographs and direct measurements. These two methodologies were compared and contrasted, with the relati ve advantages and disadvantages of each explored. Results indicate tha t significant differences exist between the two methodologies. Pelvic height, breadth of symphysis, sacro-iliac breadth (P = 0.0001) and ant erior upper spinal breadth (P = 0.0002) were larger when measured dire ctly. Pelvic breadth, transverse diameter of the pelvic brim, and heig ht of the ilium did not significantly differ between methodologies (P = 0.2037, P = 0.5253, P = 0.1752). Due to secular changes and inherent intrapopulational variation, taking measurements either directly from modern cadaveric specimens or radiographically on living volunteers i n a limited geographic or socioeconomic grouping, rather than from ske letal collections or archived radiographs, may be more appropriate for providing data for current anthropometric applications. (C) 1997 Wile y-Liss, Inc.