X-ray pelvimetry in a resource poor environment. Obsolete, worthless or unnecessary?. Relationship with length of the ring finger

Abstract

X-ray pelvimetry is a useful radiologic tool that identifies women at risk of cephalo-pelvic disproportion; a risk factor associated with dystocia and obstructed labor. Computed tomography pelvimetry has rendered traditional radiographic assessment obsolete and makes radiography useful probably only in the rural health facilities. Therefore, there is still a need to revisit this practice of predicting outcome of labor and relate pelvimetry to other anthropometric measurements in cases of emergency. The objective of the study was to investigate pelvimetric diameters, the percutaneous measurement of the left fourth or ring finger (LRF) and how LRF accurately predicts pelvimetric measurements of the subjects studied. This was a prospective xray pelvimetric study made up of 56 volunteers of University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Benin City, Nigeria and undergoing their antenatal clinic visits. The women had indications for pelvimetry as assessed by the referring obstetrician. Percutaneous measurement of the left fourth or ring finger was done. Bio-data was also recorded. The study showed age range of 20 – 39 years with a mean age of 29.5 ± 4.2years. The pelvic inlet diameter showed a mean of 11.1 ± 0.5cm, pelvic outlet recorded a mean of 11.9 ± 0.6cm and left ring finger length showed a mean of 7.5 ± 0.4cm. The study showed that the percutaneous measurement of the fourth or ring finger may be used to predict pelvimetric indices in the subjects studied, using the linear regression formula derived.

Key Words: x-ray pelvimetry, left ring finger length, linear regression formula, adult Nigerian women