A roentgenological study of the Chinese female pelvis

An important problem which every obstetrician frequently faces is how to conduct labor safely for both mother and infant. Often this problem is complicated by such factors as strength of uterine contractions, extensibility of the soft tissues, the degree of molding of the fetal head, and cephalopelvic disproportion, which impede and complicate to variable degrees an otherwise normal process. It is in this respect that the use of the x-ray has become a most valuable adjunct in the solution of obstetrical problems. The acceptance of the roentgen pelvimetric technique is based upon reports of numerous corroborating clinical studies by Dyer, 1 Savage, 2 and Roth. 3 A necessary requisite for interpreting and utilizing x-ray pelvimetric results is to establish criteria from which one can draw conclusions as to the expected course of labor and its safest management. In Taiwan (Formosa) external pelvic measurement, which is at present regarded only as a traditional gesture, has been used routinely with the measurement of the diagonal conjugate in cases of suspected pelvic contraction. X-ray pelvimetry was rarely employed until several years ago. Consequently, pelvic measurements and architecture remained obscure. This study is designed to establish various criteria of pelves of Chinese women based upon obstetrical and anthropological factors.