Original article / research
Sacral Morphometry in Sacralised and Non Sacralised Dry Human Sacra: A Cross-sectional Study from Northern India
AC01-AC04
Correspondence
Dr. Ankita Saha,
Flat No. 539, Railvihar, Anandapur, Kolkata-700107, West Bengal, India.
E-mail: ankitasaha91@gmail.com
Introduction: Lower back pain is a very common problem among the younger generation today. One congenital cause is a Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebra (LSTV), which occurs at the lumbosacral junction. Variations in the morphology of the sacrum and lumbar vertebrae have clinical relevance because they alter biomechanics. Accurate morphometric data on sacralisation are necessary for orthopaedic, radiological, anatomical, and forensic applications. Despite the recognised prevalence and clinical relevance of LSTVs, limited osteological data comparing morphometric parameters between sacralised and non sacralised sacra are available in the Indian population.
Aim: To evaluate morphometric variations of the sacrum in relation to lumbosacral assimilation and compare measurements between male and female sacra and also between sacralised and non sacralised specimens.
Materials and Methods: The present observational cross-sectional study included 80 dry human sacra (50 male, 30 female) collected from the Department of Anatomy, FMHS, SGT Medical College, Gurugram, Haryana, India, between January 2025 and December 2025. Morphometric parameters measured included mid-Ventral Straight Length (VSL), Ventral Base Width (VBW), Superior Base Width (SBW), Sacral Auricular Lengths (SAL) and Sacral Auricular Widths (SAW). Based on these measurements, Ventral Base Index (VBI) and Sacral Body Index (SBDI) were calculated. Statistical analysis using independent samples t-test and Fisher’s exact test was performed with significance set at p<0.05. Data are presented as mean±Standard Deviation (SD).
Results: Sacralisation was observed in 13 (16.3%) specimens, with complete sacralisation in 9 (69.2%) and partial fusion in 4 (30.8%). Significant sexual dimorphism was observed in VSL (p<0.001), both right and left auricular lengths (p<0.05) and SBDI (p<0.0001). Regarding morphometric comparison between groups, the mean SBDI was significantly lower in sacralised bones than in non sacralised bones (p=0.003). Deep sacral hiatus with dorsal wall defects was found in 9 (11.3%) cases.
Conclusion: According to the findings of the present study sacralised sacra demonstrated larger morphometric dimensions, which were not found to be statistically significant except for SBDI.