Is the obturator artery safe when performing ischial osteotomy during periacetabular osteotomy?

The purposes of this study were (1) to evaluate the actual distance between the obturator artery and the ischial osteotomy site when performing periacetabular osteotomy via an anterior approach and (2) to determine a safe method to avoid injuring the obturator artery during this procedure. Twenty-nine hemipelves from cadavers were used in this study. The mean distance between the obturator artery and the ischial osteotomy site was 35.6 ± 7.5 mm and always exceeded 20 mm. Therefore, the procedure can be performed safely when a chisel blade of 20 mm or shorter is used.