Musculoskeletal ImagingSymphysis pubis
1. Anatomythe fibrocartilaginous joint formed by the bodies of the pubic bones in the median plane. Also, see pubic symphysis.
2. Pathology
Subluxation or dislocation of the symphysis pubis causes a single break in the pubic ring but frequently a second injury to the pelvic ring, such as a fracture of the ilium or sacrum, occurs concomitantly.
Diastasis of the symphysis pubis commonly occurs during pregnancy, perhaps related to ligamentous response to the hormones progesterone and relaxin. In some cases rupture of the symphysis may occur at the end of pregnancy, especially during labour and delivery.
Other abnormalities that may involve the symphysis pubis include an insufficiency type of stress fracture in patients with osteoporosis, bone erosion and adjacent bone proliferation in Reiters syndrome, and erosion and blurring of subchondral bone on both sides of the symphysis with adjacent eburnation, joint space narrowing and bony ankylosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Infection and osteitis pubis are additional disorders occurring at this site (Fig.1).
DR/RB
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AP radiograph of the pelvis demonstrates joint space narrowing, osteosclerosis and subchondral cyst formation at the symphysis pubis due to osteitis pubis.
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Symphysis pubis, Fig.1 | |