What is pubic symphysis

Pubic symphysis is a midline secondary amphiarthrodial cartilaginous joint of the bony pelvis, uniting both pubic bodies. The pubic symphysis is a secondary cartilaginous joint, which means there is a wedge-shaped fibrocartilaginous interpubic disc situated between two layers of hyaline cartilage, which line the oval-shaped medial articular surfaces of the pubic bones ¹. Pubic symphysis joint is connected by fibrocartilage and may contain a fluid-filled cavity and the center of the pubic symphysis is avascular, possibly due to the nature of the compressive forces passing through this joint, which may lead to harmful vascular disease ². The ends of both pubic bones are covered by a thin layer of hyaline cartilage attached to the fibrocartilage. The fibrocartilaginous disk is reinforced by a series of ligaments. These ligaments cling to the fibrocartilaginous disk to the point that fibers intermix with it. The ligaments around the pubic symphysis are flexible and relax during pregnancy.

Ligaments

The pubic symphysis is reinforced by four strong ligaments ¹:

• Superior pubic ligament: runs from pubic crest to pubic crest
• Inferior pubic (or subpubic or arcuate) ligament: runs from inferior pubic ramus to inferior pubic ramus
• Anterior pubic ligament: blends with periosteum laterally as well as the interpubic disc
• Posterior pubic ligament: blends with periosteum of both pubic bodies posteriorly

The superior pubic ligament and the inferior pubic ligament, provide the most stability; the anterior and posterior ligaments are weaker. The strong and thicker superior ligament is reinforced by the tendons of the rectus abdominis muscle, the abdominal external oblique muscle, the gracilis muscle, and by muscles of the hip. The superior pubic ligament connects together the two pubic bones superiorly, extending laterally as far as the pubic tubercles. The inferior ligament in the pubic arch is also known as the arcuate pubic ligament or subpubic ligament; it is a thick, triangular arch of ligamentous fibers, connecting together the two pubic bones below, and forming the upper boundary of the pubic arch. Above, it is blended with the interpubic fibrocartilaginous lamina; laterally, it is attached to the inferior rami of the pubic bones; below, it is free, and is separated from the fascia of the urogenital diaphragm by an opening through which the deep dorsal vein of the penis passes into the pelvis.

Other ligaments which attach to the pubic symphysis include:

• suspensory ligament of the penis
• pubocervical ligament

Musculotendinous

• adductor longus, adductor brevis and rectus abdominis muscles attach to the anterior pubic ligament and interpubic disc ¹
• external oblique aponeurosis also reinforces the pubic symphysis anteriorly ³
• pyramidalis muscle

The width of the pubic symphysis joint space differs at different ages:

• ~10 mm at 3 years
• ~6 mm at 20 years
• ~3 mm at 50 years
• A width of >10 mm is considered diagnostic for pubic symphysis diastasis. Involvement of the sacroiliac (SI) joints must be assessed.

For physiological reasons, women have a greater thickness of the fibrocartilaginous disc, allowing more mobility of the pelvic bones and thereby providing a larger pelvic diameter needed for childbirth. During pregnancy, due to the presence of certain hormones like relaxin, the gap in the symphysis pubis can increase by 2-3 mm.

Normally very little movement exist within the pubic symphysis joint: up to 2 mm shift and 1 degree rotation ¹.

Pubic symphysis diastasis

Pubic symphysis diastasis or separation of the pubic symphysis without concomitant fracture, following childbirth via vaginal delivery is a rare but debilitating condition ⁴. Widening of the pubic symphysis cartilaginous joint during pregnancy before childbirth is physiologic and assists in expanding the birth canal for successful delivery ⁵. However, reports of non-physiologic pubic diastasis exceeding that typically required for childbirth (typically greater than 1 cm) can leave mothers with debility and extreme pain. The incidence of complete separation of the pubic symphysis is reported to be within 1 in 300 to 1:30,000, with many instances likely undiagnosed ⁵.

The incidence of pathologic, complete separation of the pubic symphysis following pregnancy is reported to be within 1 in 300 to 1:30,000, with many instances likely undiagnosed ⁶. In a published case series out of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, they reported the incidence at a single institution to be 1 in 569 deliveries over two years. Under-reporting is likely, due to inconsistencies in diagnosis and patients often presenting with mild symptoms and limited debility; MR studies show a high incidence in pubic lesions following vaginal childbirth even in low-risk pregnancies (bone marrow edema, bone fracture, capsule fracture), but they normally tend to recover and are not associated to prolapse or incontinence ⁷.

Patients can present with pubic symphysis diastasis before delivery, during delivery, or most commonly postpartum ⁴. The postpartum presentation is most common and presentation can encounter delay as spinal epidural anesthesia administered during the birthing process can mask the symptoms. Typical presentation involving pubic symphysis diastasis following pregnancy is unrelenting pain in the anterior pelvis and suprapubic region, with or without pain localized over the sacroiliac joints from associated posterior pelvic ring ligamentous injury. Pain from the anterior pelvis can radiate and manifest in the hip joints and radiate down the legs. Patients will often have extreme difficulty with weight bearing and can retain urine often requiring the use of an indwelling Foley’s catheters.

Patients will have difficulty with both active and passive straight leg raise and changes in bed positioning ⁴. On physical examination, patients will often present in distress secondary to pain, pain with palpation or attempted manipulation of the pelvic girdle, and pain with attempted weight bearing or ambulation. The literature describes soft tissue edema or hematoma on the pubis and perineum ⁸, as well as a palpable gap in the pubic symphysis in several case studies ⁶. The literature does not describe associated nerve and vascular injury.

Pubic symphysis diastasis occurs spontaneously during complicated deliveries, but symphysiotomy is performed for treatment of obstructed labor and shoulder dystocia in countries where cesarean section is not immediately available, and maternal mortality from cesarean delivery remains high ⁹. A retrospective study shows that it is a safe procedure, confers a permanent enlargement of the pelvic inlet and outlet facilitating vaginal delivery in future pregnancies, and is a life-saving operation for the child; severe complications are rare ¹⁰. Chronic pain during movement or intercourse might result from a residual separation over 2.5 cm ⁹.

Discussions of multiple treatment options in the literature include non-operative treatment with application of pelvic binder coupled with physical therapy and immediate weight bearing, non-weight bearing with bedrest, closed reduction with application of binder, application of anterior external fixator with or without sacroiliac screw fixation, and anterior internal fixation with plate and screws. A multi-disciplinary approach is essential in both early detection and treatment for satisfactory patient outcomes ⁴.

Pubic symphysis diastasis causes

Identified risk factors for postpartum pubic symphysis diastasis include primigravid women (a woman in her first pregnancy), multiple gestations (multiple pregnancy or more than one fetus), and prolonged active labor ¹¹. Forceps deliveries, deliveries of newborns weighing over 4000 gm, and infant macrosomia are also possible etiologies in cases of pubic separation ¹¹; epidural analgesia and shoulder dystocia or McRoberts maneuver are also reported ⁵. A review of case reports also notes a higher incidence in Scandinavian women. While increased serum relaxin hormone levels have been identified in women with pubic symphysis diastasis, however, no direct correlation has been proven between these elevated levels and an increased incidence of post-partum separation.

Other theoretical causes or predisposing factors for pubic symphysis diastasis include ¹²:

• Biomechanical strain of the pelvic ligaments and associated hyper-lordosis; anatomical pelvic variations and “contracted pelvis”
• Metabolic (calcium) and hormonal (relaxin and progesterone) changes leading to ligamentous laxity
• Extreme weakening of the joint
• Tearing of the fibrocartilaginous disc during delivery
• Narrowing, sclerosis, and degeneration of the pubic joint
• Muscle weakness
• Increased pregnancy-related weight gain;
• A very long or a very short second stage of labor
• Trauma
• Bladder exstrophy
• Prune belly syndrome
• Osteogenesis imperfecta
• Cleidocranial dysostosis
• Hypothyroidism

Relaxin, a hormone secreted by the placenta during pregnancy, peaks during the first trimester and again peripartum in females ¹³. A modulator of arterial compliance and cardiac output during pregnancy, relaxin also serves to relax the pelvic ligaments and contribute to softening of the cartilage of the pubic symphysis for preparation of the birth canal for delivery ¹³. As seen in most pelvic ring injuries that separate anteriorly at the pubic symphysis, there is often an associated posterior pelvic ring injury as well, with stretch, partial tears, or complete tears of the sacroiliac ligaments. Complicated deliveries (contracted pelvis, macrosomia, shoulder dystocia, a long second stage of labor) are prone to soft tissue (levator anis muscle) and bone lesions due to the stretching forces.

Pubic symphysis diastasis complications

Reported complications from pubic symphysis separation during pregnancy are rare. Urinary outflow obstruction, hematoma formation, and sustained painful ambulation are the most common complaints in case studies. Venous thrombus embolism is also reported and likely attributable to prolonged immobilization.

Pubic symphysis diastasis diagnosis

When postpartum pubic diastasis is suspected clinically, an ultrasound scan can be diagnostic and used for screening ¹⁴, but then a standard AP pelvis radiograph should be obtained. On the evaluation of plain film imaging, pubic symphysis diastasis greater than 1 cm indicates a pathologic process of the pelvic girdle ¹⁵. The bilateral sacral iliac joints should also undergo evaluation on plain radiography for gapping or gross separation. A CT with a three-dimensional reconstruction is also helpful in the further evaluation of the pubic symphysis and sacral iliac joints. If plain radiographs show a significant pubic separation greater than 4 cm, treatment algorithms support obtaining non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging to assess for surrounding soft tissue injury ¹⁶.

Pubic symphysis diastasis treatment

Treatments described for pelvis diastasis include non-operative treatment with application of pelvic binder coupled with physical therapy and immediate weight bearing, non-weight bearing with bedrest, closed reduction with application of binder, application of anterior external fixator with or without sacroiliac screw fixation, and anterior internal fixation with plate and screws. Analgesics and anti-inflammatory medications may be used for symptomatic relief of pain.

In most cases, conservative, non-operative management is recommended and yields good functional outcomes. While early operative management has been advocated in cases where pubic diastasis measures more than 4 cm, the patient is at increased risk for perioperative complications in the postpartum state. Distorted pelvic anatomy, increased pelvic vascularity, and peripartum hypercoagulability complicates surgical intervention and must be a consideration.

Pubic symphysis diastasis prognosis

Prognosis is very good for the majority of patients who experience postpartum pubic symphysis diastasis, and in most cases, full recovery without persistent pain is the expectation ⁵. Follow-up radiographs in most case studies show near-complete closure of the pubic symphysis and complete resolution of symptoms within 3 months ⁴. Some patients did require further physical therapy for up to 6 months. No significant long term complications have been identified. No definitive recommendations exist regarding alteration of care for future pregnancies, and this would be a good area for future study.

1. Becker I, Woodley SJ, Stringer MD. The adult human pubic symphysis: a systematic review. J. Anat. 2010;217 (5): 475-87. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2010.01300.x[↩][↩][↩][↩]
2. da Rocha RC, Chopard RP. Nutrition pathways to the symphysis pubis. J Anat. 2004;204(Pt 3):209–215. doi:10.1111/j.0021-8782.2004.00271.x https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1571274[↩]
3. Clinically Oriented Anatomy. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN:1451119453[↩]
4. Seidman AJ, Siccardi MA. Postpartum Pubic Symphysis Diastasis. [Updated 2019 Mar 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537043[↩][↩][↩][↩][↩]
5. Chawla JJ, Arora D, Sandhu N, Jain M, Kumari A. Pubic Symphysis Diastasis: A Case Series and Literature Review. Oman Med J. 2017 Nov;32(6):510-514[↩][↩][↩][↩]
6. Hines KN, Badlani GH, Matthews CA. Peripartum Perineal Hernia: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2018 Sep/Oct;24(5):e38-e41[↩][↩]
7. Shi M, Shang S, Xie B, Wang J, Hu B, Sun X, Wu J, Hong N. MRI changes of pelvic floor and pubic bone observed in primiparous women after childbirth by normal vaginal delivery. Arch. Gynecol. Obstet. 2016 Aug;294(2):285-9[↩]
8. Gräf C, Sellei RM, Schrading S, Bauerschlag DO. Treatment of parturition-induced rupture of pubic symphysis after spontaneous vaginal delivery. Case Rep Obstet Gynecol. 2014;2014:485916[↩]
9. Anderson J, Hampton RM, Lugo J. Postoperative care of symphysiotomy performed for severe shoulder dystocia with fetal demise. Case Rep Womens Health. 2017 Apr;14:6-7[↩][↩]
10. Björklund K. Minimally invasive surgery for obstructed labour: a review of symphysiotomy during the twentieth century (including 5000 cases). BJOG. 2002 Mar;109(3):236-48[↩]
11. Yoo JJ, Ha YC, Lee YK, Hong JS, Kang BJ, Koo KH. Incidence and risk factors of symptomatic peripartum diastasis of pubic symphysis. J. Korean Med. Sci. 2014 Feb;29(2):281-6[↩][↩]
12. Howell ER. Pregnancy-related symphysis pubis dysfunction management and postpartum rehabilitation: two case reports. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2012 Jun;56(2):102-11.[↩]
13. Hagen R. Pelvic girdle relaxation from an orthopaedic point of view. Acta Orthop Scand. 1974;45(4):550-63[↩][↩]
14. Scriven MW, Jones DA, McKnight L. The importance of pubic pain following childbirth: a clinical and ultrasonographic study of diastasis of the pubic symphysis. J R Soc Med. 1995 Jan;88(1):28-30[↩]
15. Jain N, Sternberg LB. Symphyseal separation. Obstet Gynecol. 2005 May;105(5 Pt 2):1229-32[↩]
16. Herren C, Sobottke R, Dadgar A, Ringe MJ, Graf M, Keller K, Eysel P, Mallmann P, Siewe J. Peripartum pubic symphysis separation–Current strategies in diagnosis and therapy and presentation of two cases. Injury. 2015;46(6):1074-80[↩]