Anatomical evaluation of sacrum in dry bones

Abstract

Objectives: The sacrum is a critical bone in various clinical procedures, including caudal epidural blocks, iliosacral screw placements, fetal growth assessment, and sacral nerve stimulation. This study aims to investigate the morphometry and variational morphology of the anatomical formations in the pelvis and dorsal surface of the sacrum. Methods: Morphometric and morphological characteristics of 30 sacral bones of unknown age and sex were examined. Measurements were made using a digital caliper. Results: The mean height of the sacrum was 106.67±10.16 mm, while their mean width was 103.60±6.78 mm. The morphometric analysis revealed that the mean length of the sacral hiatus was 18.51±7.44 mm, and the distance between the sacral cornua was 11.80±2.46 mm. The sacral hiatus was most commonly observed in an inverted ‘U’ shape, while the least common form was bifid. The sacral canal typically displayed a V-shaped morphology. It was determined that the apex of the sacral hiatus most frequently started at the S4 level (80%) compared to the sacral vertebra, and the base of the sacral hiatus mostly ended at the S5 level (93.4%). Conclusion: Morphometry of the sacrum is essential in guiding clinicians, especially in interventions such as anesthesia and orthopedics. Discrepancies in parameter studies conducted in some countries suggest the significance of ethnic factors. Therefore, it is essential for the number of studies to increase and for physicians to follow the parameters of their society regarding the effectiveness of the treatments.