Vascular anatomy for rotational acetabular osteotomy: cadaveric study

Rotational acetabular osteotomies are performed tocorrect dysplastic hips in young adults. However, there is apotential risk of intrapelvic vascular injury. To define therelation of these vascular structures to the bone around theacetabulum, we measured the distance and direction fromthe anteroinferior iliac spine to the external iliac artery andfrom the base of the superior pubic ramus to the obturatorartery in 34 cadaveric hemipelves (17 male, 17 female; 19 left,15 right). The distance to the external iliac artery wassignificantly shorter in females (average 31.7mm) than inmales (average 38.2 mm); and the distance to the intrapelvicentry portal of the obturator canal, through which theobturator artery passes, was significantly shorter in females(average 27.2mm) than in males (average 33.4mm). Inaddition, the external iliac artery was located significantlymore ventral and closer to the anteroinferior iliac spine inright hemipelves than in left hemipelves. The intrapelvic entryportal of the obturator canal was located more caudodorsal tothe base of the superior pubic ramus in females than in males.Care should thus be taken during surgery in light of ourfindings.