ANTHROPOMETRIC STUDY OF PUBIC TUBERCLE AND ITS CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Background:Abdominal wall is the site of opposing physical forces that may eventually result in the appearance of the hernias. The external abdominal hernias are the most common forms, the inguinal hernia being the commonly encountered type [75% of the abdominal hernia]. Many factors are responsible for the formation of the inguinal hernia but, what makes a few people more susceptible to this situation is still clearly not proved. Few of the previous studies have concluded that the low lying pubic tubercle is associated with the development of the inguinal hernia.
Objectives:This study was designed to investigate the distance between the anterior superior iliac spines and the perpendicular distance of the pubic tubercle from the interspinal line.
Methods: 50 males with inguinal hernia compared with the control group comprising of 60 adult healthy males.
Results:This study revealed that both parameters (interspinal SS distance and the pubic tubercle height ST) in the study group were significantly greater than that in the control group. The distance from mid inguinal point to the superficial inguinal ring was also measured in both the study and control groups and the results show that the distance is shorter in the individuals with the inguinal hernia. Identification of the structural characteristics of inguinal region enables the surgeon to perform the surgical technique appropriately.
Conclusion:The low pubic tubercle group of cases has more tendencies for herniation. The unusual origin of internal oblique muscle in group II with low lying tubercle is far away, from the external half of the inguinal ligament, leaving the internal ring unprotected during abdominal muscle contraction, which is another causation of hernia development.
Key words: Inguinal hernia, pubic tubercle, inguinal canal, anterior superior iliac spine