The ilium is the large, wing-shaped superior portion of the hip bone (os coxae), forming the iliac crest, the posterior and anterior iliac spines, and the greater sciatic notch. It fuses with the ischium and pubis to form the acetabulum.
| Articulations |
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|---|---|
| Landmarks | |
| Ossification | Endochondral and membranous ossification from a primary centre at week 8 of fetal life, with secondary apophyseal centres at the iliac crest (fusing at age 25) and AIIS. |
The ilium forms the superior part of the hip bone and the iliac crest is the most prominent bony landmark of the pelvis. Iliac crest bone graft is the gold standard donor site for autologous bone grafting due to the volume of cancellous and cortical bone available. Iliac crest avulsion fractures in adolescent athletes occur at the ASIS (sartorius origin) and AIIS (rectus femoris origin) during explosive sprinting. Pelvic ring injuries disrupting the ilium require surgical stabilisation to restore ring integrity.
A direct blow to the iliac crest in contact sport causes painful bruising of the bone and muscle attachments.
An isolated fracture of the iliac wing that does not break the pelvic ring, usually from direct lateral impact.
In adolescents, sudden sartorius contraction during sprinting can avulse the anterior superior iliac spine apophysis.
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