Radiographical Assessment of the Subpubic Angle among Adult Bini Tribe in Nigeria and Overview of its Significance

Abstract

Background: Pelvimetry is an important component of anthropometry which entails the assessment of pelvis morphometry. This includes subpubic angle (SPA) which is an important parameter with diverse applications. Objective: This study was conducted to determine the standard SPA values among the Bini tribe in Nigeria and elucidate their significance. Materials and Methods: This study employed anteroposterior pelvic radiographs of 85 male and 95 female adult Binis between 25 and 55 years. The SPA was measured as the angle formed by the intersection of inferior margins of the pubic rami. Data obtained were analyzed and presented as mean and standard deviation with comparison undertaken using a t-test (where P < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant). Results: The male SPA (85.67 ± 8.04) was significantly lower (P = 0.035) than the female SPA (114.38 ± 9.70). Regarding the age groups, the male SPA (85.94 ± 6.08) was significantly lower than the female SPA (112.88 ± 9.59) among < 30 years; the male SPA (85.76 ± 8.78) was significantly lower than the female SPA (116.40 ± 7.41) among 31 to 40 years; the male SPA (84.75 ± 8.02) was significantly lower than the female SPA (113.59 ± 10.03) among 41 to 50 years, and the male SPA (86.13 ± 7.53) was significantly lower than the female SPA (113.96 ± 8.63) among over 50 years. Conclusion: The SPA has great significance as an estimator of sex and race during forensic procedures. Clinically, it is a vital parameter that plays a significant role in the determination of the mode of parturition in pregnant females at term.