Sex differences in anatomical parameters of acetabulum among asymptomatic Serbian population

Anatomical parameters of the bony components of the hip joint are essential for better understanding of etiopathogenesis of diseases like primary osteoarthrosis of the hip joint. The aim of this reserch was to examine the normal acetabular morphometry in Serbian population and to determine whether there are sex differences in anatomical parameters of the acetabulum among asymptomatic subjects. Pelvic radiographics of 320 adult asymptomatic patients (640 hips) were analyzed in 170 men and 150 women to determine the morphology of the acetabulum in Serbian population. For each hip the center edge angle of Wiberg (CEA), the acetabular angle of Sharp (AA), acetabular depth (AD), acetabular roof obliquity (ARO) and roof angle (RA) were measured. The following average measurements for acetabulum geometry were obtained (x +/- SD): CEA - 33.5 +/- 6.5 degrees (33.6 +/- 5.8 degrees in male, 33.3 +/- 6.9 degrees in female), AA - 38.0 +/- 3.8 degrees (37.5 +/- 3.6 degrees in male, 38.5 +/- 3.9 degrees in female), AD - 11.9 +/- 2.8 mm (12.5 +/- 2.7 mm in male, 11.2 +/- 2.7 mm in female), ARO - 7.6 +/- 5.7 degrees (6.2 +/- 4.9 degrees in male, 9.0 +/- 6.0 degrees in female) and RA - 18.4 +/- 10.0 degrees (19.6 +/- 8.5 degrees in male, 17.1 +/- 9.5 degrees in female). There were significant differences in the CEA, AA, AD, ARO and RA related to gender (p < 0.01, t-test). There are significant gender differences in Serbian population for all the examined anatomical parameters of acetabulum. We found sex-related differences in acetabular morphology, female acetabulum being marginally more dysplastic than male acetabulum. There is also a clear tendency of female hips to be more dysplastic than male ones.