A STUDY OF THE ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE HUMAN ACETABULUM USING A CORROSION CASTING METHOD

This anatomical study concerns the arterial supply of the human acetab ulum. The purpose is to contribute to prevention of postoperative necr osis of the acetabular bone fragment after rotational acetabular osteo tomy (RAG). The arterial supply of the acetabulum was determined using a corrosion casting method. The acetabular branch of the obturator ar tery supplies the acetabulum through the acetabular notch. The pubic b ranches supply the pelvic surface of the acetabulum. Deep branches of the superior gluteal artery supply the superior region and the inferio r gluteal artery supplies the postero-inferior region. From these resu lts, we recognized that the important artery for achieving successful RAO is the acetabular branch of the obturator artery that supplies the acetabulum through the acetabular notch. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.