Normal pelvic dimensions of Nigerian women in Ile Ife by computed tomographic pelvimetry.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the baseline pelvic parameters as assessed by computed tomographic (CT) pelvimetry in Nigerian women and to compare the pelvic parameters with those derived from other studies.

Design: The study was carried out in pregnant women at 36 weeks and above referred for routine CT-pelvimetry.

Subject: A total of 100 pregnant women at 36 weeks and above referred to the Radiology Department were prospectively recruited for this study, they included women with breech presentation after 36 weeks gestation and women who either had previous lower segment caesarean section for reasons other than confirmed or suspected cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD). The subjects' ages ranged from 24-45 years.

Results: The mean anteroposterior and transverse inlet pelvic diameters were 11.6 cm +/-SD 0.9 and 12.0 +/-SD 0.8 cm respectively. The range of anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the inlet were 8.4 cm-14.0 cm and 10-13.8 cm respectively. The mean outlet diameter was 11.5 cm +/-SD 1.2 cm. The mean bispinous diameter of the pelvis was 10.6 cm +/-SD 0.9 cm. There was significant positive correlation between anteroposterior diameter inlet and outlet as well as the bispinous diameters (1st, 4th - 6th pairs) p<0.001.

Conclusion: here are significant variations in pelvic parameters of Nigerian women when compared with values from other countries of the world. These significant variations are anthropometric in origin.