Variation in origin of the obturator artery and corona mortis in Thai

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the variation in origin of the obturator artery and incidences of arterial and venous corona mortis among Northeast Thais. Methods: Dissection of 204 cadaveric Northeast Thai pelvic halves between 20 and 95 years-old at decease. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: The respective origin of the obturator artery was the internal iliac (77.5%) and inferior epigastric arteries (22.5%), while double origins (from both arteries) in one pelvic half and bilateral abnormal origins (from the inferior epigastric arteries) were 5.4 and 9.6 percent, respectively. Sex and side made no significant difference (P>0.05). The occurrence of the arterial corona mortis, venous corona mortis and both structures was 22.5, 70.6 and 17.2 percent, respectively. The arterial corona mortis while crossing over the iliopubic ramus was frequently found anterior to the venous corona mortis. Conclusion: The incidence of an anomalous obturator artery forming the arterial corona mortis among Northeast Thais was 22.5% although a venous corona mortis (70.6%) was more frequent. Seventeen percent had both arterial and venous corona mortis. Nevertheless, both their courses, crossing over the iliopubic rami, would be at risk of damage during an ilioinguinal approach or operation of the anterior ring of the pelvis.