Measuring the human pelvis: a comparison of direct and radiographic techniques using a modern United States--based...

Seven measurements were taken on a sample of 50 human cadaveric pelves, all white Texans born in the 20th century. Two separate methodologies were used to obtain these data: radiographs and direct measurements. These two methodologies were compared and contrasted, with the relative advantages and disadvantages of each explored. Results indicate that significant differences exist between the two methodologies. Pelvic height, breadth of symphysis, sacro-iliac breadth (P = 0.0001) and anterior upper spinal breadth (P = 0.0002) were larger when measured directly. Pelvic breadth, transverse diameter of the pelvic brim, and height 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 in a limited geographic or socioeconomic grouping, rather than from skeletal collections or archived radiographs, may be more appropriate for providing data for current anthropometric applications.