Abstract:
Abstract
Introduction: Sacral hiatus is an opening present at the lower end of sacral canal.
The anatomy of sacral hiatus and its variations are clinically important during
administration of Caudal Epidural Block (CEB) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
(OBGYN), Orthopedic, Urology and General surgical practices. The success and
reliability of CEB depends upon the sound knowledge of anatomical variations of
sacral hiatus. Previous study on the variation of sacral hiatus is limited in Ethiopia.
Thus, the present study is undertaken to fill this gap and find out the anatomical
variations of sacral hiatus.
Objective: The study was conducted to assess morphological and morphometric
variation of sacral hiatus in dry human sacrum.
Methods: Institutional based observational descriptive study design was conducted
to assess morphological and morphometric variations of sacral hiatus in 61dry
human sacrum at Anatomy departments of Gondar, Addis Ababa, Hawasa and
Jimma universities and Hayat and Korea Medical Colleges in Addis Ababa.
Descriptive statistics with frequency, percentages, tables and charts are used to
display results.
Results: Various shapes of sacral hiatus were observed which included Inverted-U
(37.7%); Inverted-V (41%), Irregular (4.9%), Dumb-bell (11.5%), and Bifid
(3.3%).The mean anteroposterior depth of sacral canal at the level of apex of sacral
hiatus was 5.57mm. The mean length of sacral hiatus was 22.67 mm and the mean
transverse width of sacral hiatus at the level of base was 13.14 mm .There was
complete spinal bifida in 1 (2%).
Conclusion: The sacral hiatus has anatomical variations. Understanding of these
variations may improve the success rate for administration of caudal epidural
anaesthesia.
Keyword: Sacral, hiatus, variation
