The anatomy of pelvic corona mortis vessles in black Africans: A cadaveric study

Abstract

Objective: To study prevalence and variant anatomy of the corona mortis vessels in a black African population in relation to side and gender. Methodology: Forty embalmed hemipelvices obtained from the Department of Human Anatomy at Moi University were used for this descriptive cross sectional study. The cadavers were dissected at the preperitoneal area of the abdominal wall from inside to look for corona mortis. Chi-Square test was used to compare the incidence of the corona mortis between males and females. The level of significant difference used was p < 0.05. The unpaired t-test was used to compare mean of incidences of corona mortis in males and females. Results: Corona mortis was present in 38% (15 of 40). Of these, 47% were in men and 53% in women. The mean distance from the pubic symphysis to the point where the corona mortis traverses the pubic ramus was 53.2mm (arterial) and 54.3mm (venous). The mean distance from the pubic ramus to the point of anastomosis with the external iliac systems were 16.4mm and 11.5mm for the artery and vein respectively. Regarding the nature of connection, 2(13.4%) were purely arterial, 5(33.3%) were purely venous while 8(53.3%) had both. From the chi-square results it showed that there was no significant relationship between the gender and nature of connections or side of the pelvis; (χ2 =0.134, df=2; p>0.05). Conclusion: In pelvic and acetabular surgery, the corona mortis must be ligated or clipped to advance the dissection further along the pelvic brim and quadrilateral surface during the modified Stoppa approach which enables access to the anterior wall, anterior column, and associated anterior column and posterior hemitransverse fractures, as well as certain both-column, T-shaped, and transverse fractures.