A thickness map of iliac bone of Korean adults

The iliac bone is one of the most common donor sites for bone graft. Despite such potential and clinical usefulness, the anthropometric data on the iliac bone are lacking. The purpose of this study is to construct a thickness map that provides the mean iliac bone thickness of its various points and their differences. We studied 58 hip bones (from 23 males and 35 females) from Korean adults. We measured the iliac bone thickness at 26 points, which were positioned at regular intervals on each given iliac bone, using a Techlock GM 21 caliper gauge. The mean thickness of each measuring point of the male and the female, and of the right and the left, was compared with each other through paired t-test; the measurements did not differ significantly. From the anteriorposterior perspective, the region between anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) and iliac tubercle was relatively thick. However, it became progressively thinner before it reached the sacroiliac articulation. It became thicker again toward the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS), the thickest area. From the superoinferior perspective of superior iliac crest and inferior acetabulum, the thickness became inferiorly thinner in the anterior part between ASIS and iliac tuberosity. However, in the posterior part between the sacroiliac joint and PSIS, there was no significant difference of thickness. We hope that our thickness map can serve as a practical guide to the choice of an ideal site of the iliac bone for bone graft to obtain desired thickness.