Sacrum and Coccyx Shape Changes During Pregnancy and After Delivery

Overview

Journal Ann Biomed Eng

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2023 Oct 12

PMID 37828266

Authors

Liam C Martin

Megan R Routzong

Pamela A Moalli

Ghazaleh Rostaminia

Steven D Abramowitch

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Remodeling of the sacrum and coccyx to accommodate pregnancy and delivery has been hypothesized but not directly quantified. This study aimed to quantify the remodeling of the sacrum and coccyx by comparing midsagittal lengths, angles, curvature, and shape between nulliparous, pregnant, and parous women using both 2 and 3 dimensional measures. Ninety pelvic magnetic resonance images of the pelvis were retrospectively collected and segmented. Twelve length, angle, and curvature measurements were made using definitions from previous literature on the midsagittal plane to define the sacrum, coccyx, and combined sacrum-coccyx shape. These measures were followed by a statistical shape analysis, which returned modes of variation and principal component scores. A separate MANCOVA analysis was conducted for both the 2D and 3D measures. The 2D and 3D analyses agreed that pregnant women had a significantly straighter coccyx and combined sacrum/coccyx than nulliparous (9.1% and 5.6%, respectively) and parous (7.5% and 2.7%, respectively) subjects. All comparisons showed that, on average, a pregnant woman's sacrum and coccyx were significantly straighter than their nulliparous counterparts. Then after delivery, the sacrum/coccyx returned, but not completely back to a more curved configuration.

Citing Articles

Sacrum and Coccyx Shape Changes During Pregnancy and After Delivery.

Martin L, Routzong M, Moalli P, Rostaminia G, Abramowitch S Ann Biomed Eng. 2023; 52(2):292-301.

PMID: 37828266 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-023-03375-y.

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