Pelvic anatomy relative to lumbosacral instrumentation.

Anatomical study of 72 pelves revealed that the most substantial area of bone that could best support a rod for surgical fixation is the body of the ilium, with the best part of the bone being the area above the sciatic notch. Placement of the rods into the body of the ilium provides good fixation but requires complex bending of the rods and a good three-dimensional perception of the osseous anatomy of the pelvis. This study was undertaken to define the intraosseous anatomy and the range of anatomical variation of the ilium. The results of this study are useful in developing a prebent spinal fixation rod, providing a better understanding of this anatomical area from a three-dimensional perspective and providing better lumbosacral spinal instrumentation.