Defining the canal for ischial and pubic screws in cup revision surgery

PURPOSE: When revising acetabular cups, it is often necessary to provide additional stabilisation with screws. In extensive defect situations, the placement of screws caudally in the ischium and/or pubis is biomechanically advantageous. Especially after multiple revision operations, the surgeon is confronted with a reduced bone stock and unclear or altered anatomy. In addition, screw placement caudally is associated with greater risk. Therefore, the present study aims to identify and define safe zones for the placement of caudal acetabular screws. METHODS: Forty-three complete CT datasets were used for the evaluation. Sixty-three distinctive 3D points representing bone landmark of interests were defined. The coordinates of these points were then used to calculate all the parameters. For simplified visualisation and intra-operative reproducibility, an analogue clock was used, with 12 o’clock indicating cranial and 6 o’clock caudal. RESULTS: A consistent accumulation was found at around 4.5 ± 0.3 hours for the ischium and 7.9 ± 0.3 hours for the pubic bone. CONCLUSIONS: The anatomy of the ischium and pubis is sufficiently constant to allow the positioning of screws in a standardised way. The interindividual variation is low — regardless of gender — so that the values determined can be used to position screws safely in the ischium and pubis. The values determined can provide the surgeon with additional orientation intra-operatively when placing caudal acetabular screws.