Ultrasonographic Measurement of the Symphysis pubis: A Potential Method of Studying Symphyseolysis in Pregnancy

Abstract

The width of the symphysis pubis was measured in a skeleton model using slide rule, ultrasonography and x-ray. Ultrasonography gave a 0.5-mm and x-ray a 1.0-mm narrower gap than the slide rule. Further, 15 nonpregnant females undergoing urography volunteered for an extra ultrasonography of the symphysis pubis. The widths of the symphysis as measured from the x-ray exposures and the ultrasonography were compared. Regression analysis gave a regression coefficient of 0.979 and a correlation coefficient of 0.850. Ultrasonography offers at least the same precision as x-ray for assessing the width of the symphyseal gap.

Peripartum Pubic Symphysis Separation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…However, several authors have advocated ultrasound as an initial imaging study as there is no ionizing radiation exposure, and it can assess the extent of the lateral symphysis separation as well as the superior-inferior displacement of the symphysis. [5][6][7][8] In some cases, computed tomography of the pelvis is necessary to assess for other pelvic trauma or retroperitoneal hemorrhage. 1 There has also been a report of the use of magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of peripartum pubic symphysis diastasis that demonstrated the subtle soft-tissue injuries that accompanied very minimal symphysis separations in symptomatic patients.…”

Symphysiotomy in Zimbabwe; Postoperative Outcome, Width of the Symphysis Joint, and Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice among Doctors and Midwives

“…Afterwards, women in both groups were sonographically examined by HLE with a Philips Sterling 1993 model, utilizing 5 mega Hertz convex sector probe to measure the internal symphyseal gap. Björklund et al had concluded in 1996 [23] that estimating the width of the symphysis pubis by ultrasonography offers at least the same precision as radiography. The image of the symphysis is seen as two curved lines representing the anterior surfaces of the pubic bones, turning parallel into the symphyseal gap, where the width may be measured.…”

Symphyseal distention in relation to serum relaxin levels and pelvic pain in pregnancy

“…The 3.5 Mhz transducer was found most suitable and was used for study population (II), where the width of the symphyseal joint was assessed by a single measurement using an Acuson 128 ultrasound machine. The technique was evaluated in a previous paper reporting on comparison of ultrasonographic and radiographic assessment of symphyseal width (30).…”

“…Other authors used conventional external film cassettes until the late 'fifties, when the hazards of ionizing irradiation to the fetus became known, and efforts to assess symphyseal distention in pregnant women came to a standstill for three decades. In recent studies, ultrasonography has been used to assess symphyseal joint distention (17,(28)(29)(30)(31), enabling investigations on the relationship between pelvic pain, symphyseal distention and relaxin levels during pregnancy.…”