X-ray pelvimetry in primiparas. I: Role of physiological maturity.

X-ray pelvimetry offers an accepted, objective, and reproducible method for evaluation of pelvic capacity. One hundred-thirty primiparous parturients, 16 years of age and younger, who had had x-ray pelvimetries when admitted for delivery at term were studied. These findings were contrasted with the findings on 150 primiparous parturients who were 20 years of age and older at term.The mean age for the adolescents was 15.4 years and for the older group, 24.1. The most common indication for pelvimetry was suspected disproportion (A = 60.8 percent, O = 65.3 percent). Contrary to expectations, many similarities were noted in the women of both groups. Four of the six diameters compared were similar when adolescents were contrasted with older women. Both diameters of the inlet were smaller among the adolescents as contrasted with the older women, who had a higher proportion of larger than average diameters. The clinical implications of these findings are presented.