Pubic symphyseal width in pediatric patients.

Traditionally, there has been no readily available and statistically sound method for evaluating the normal pubic symphyseal width in children. Normal values for the width of the pubic symphysis in the pediatric population are useful for determining pathologic widening, either congenital or posttraumatic. This investigation was directed at determining a reference range for the normal pubic symphyseal width according to age, age group, gender, and when combining these variables. Overall, the study found that the normal measurement for pediatric pubic symphyseal width ranges from 0.52 to 0.84 cm. The data also showed that the mean pubic symphyseal width for all variables combined was 0.68 cm (standard deviation of 0.16 cm and a 95% confidence interval of 0.668 to 0.690) and that anything greater than 0.84 cm needs further evaluation for pathology. The interclass correlation coefficient, test of interrater reliability, yielded moderate reliability of measurements between physicians.