Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (811 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
The part of the pelvis that comprises the pelvic socket where the head of femur joins to form hip joint (acetabulofemoral joint).
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Acetabulums; Acetabula; Acetabulas; Cotyloid Cavity; Cavities, Cotyloid; Cavity, Cotyloid; Cotyloid Cavities.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Pelvic Bones
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 14,746 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Acetabulum” (counts retrieved 2026-10-31). 3,473 of them (23.6%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 4,515 records.
Reviews account for 1,174 records (8.0%) and meta-analyses for 96. Randomized controlled trials number 205 (1.4%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 3,959 |
| 2000-2009 | 2,799 |
| 2010-2019 | 4,515 |
| 2020 onward | 3,473 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 1,174 | 8.0% |
| Meta-analyses | 96 | 0.7% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 205 | 1.4% |
Method: PubMed query "Acetabulum"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-31.
Reading the evidence in anatomy and physiology
Anatomy describes how body structures are built and physiology describes how they normally work, so most findings here are descriptive or mechanistic rather than evidence about treatment. Much of what is known comes from dissection, imaging, tissue studies and experiments in animals, and measurements in healthy volunteers can differ from those in people with disease or at different ages. Normal ranges vary between individuals and populations. Check whether a result was measured in people or in another species, the age and health of the participants, and the method used.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analysis of contact pressure in a 3D model of dual-mobility hip joint prosthesis under a gait cycle | 2023 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 29 | cc by PMID 36864170 · DOI · PMC9981612 |
| A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 3D Printing Technology for the Treatment of Acetabular Fractures | 2021 | Meta-analysis Design not recorded in structured metadata | 29 | cc by PMID 34458367 · DOI · PMC8387177 |
| Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO): from its local inception to its worldwide adoption | 2023 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 17 | cc by PMID 37917385 · DOI · PMC10622391 |
| Periacetabular osteotomy provides durable correction and low arthroplasty conversion at ≥ 7 years: prospective middle eastern study | 2026 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 1 | cc by PMID 41954625 · DOI · PMC13179886 |
Analysis of contact pressure in a 3D model of dual-mobility hip joint prosthesis under a gait cycle [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Hip joint prostheses are used to replace hip joint function in the human body.
- Closing excerpt
- The use of a larger diameter femoral head with an acetabular cup configuration at a 45° inclination can minimize the risk of implant failure due to wear.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (280 words)
Hip joint prostheses are used to replace hip joint function in the human body. The latest dual-mobility hip joint prosthesis has an additional component of an outer liner that acts as a cover for the liner component. Research on the contact pressure generated on the latest model of a dual-mobility hip joint prosthesis under a gait cycle has never been done before. The model is made of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) on the inner liner and 316L stainless steel (SS 316L) on the outer liner and acetabular cup. Simulation modeling using the finite element method is considered static loading with an implicit solver for studying the geometric parameter design of dual-mobility hip joint prostheses. In this study, simulation modeling was carried out by applying varying inclination angles of 30°, 40°, 45°, 50°, 60°, and 70° to the acetabular cup component. Three-dimensional loads were placed on femoral head reference points with variations of femoral head diameter used at 22 mm, 28 mm, and 32 mm. The results in the inner surface of the inner liner, the outer surface of the outer liner, and the inner surface of the acetabular cup showed that the variations in inclination angle do not have a major effect on the maximum contact pressure value on the liner component, where the acetabular cup with an inclination angle of 45° can reduce contact pressure more than the other studied inclination angle variations. In addition, it was found that the 22 mm diameter of the femoral head increases the contact pressure. The use of a larger diameter femoral head with an acetabular cup configuration at a 45° inclination can minimize the risk of implant failure due to wear.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 36864170 · DOI · PMC9981612
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 3D Printing Technology for the Treatment of Acetabular Fractures [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- PurposeThree-dimensional (3D) printing technology has been widely used in orthopedics surgery.
- Closing excerpt
- , randomized trial with blinding) are warranted to confirm the long-term effects of 3D printing technology in orthopedics surgeries.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (238 words)
PurposeThree-dimensional (3D) printing technology has been widely used in orthopedics surgery. However, its efficacy in acetabular fractures remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effect of using 3D printing technology in the surgery for acetabular fractures.MethodsThe systematic review was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. Four major electronic databases were searched (inception to February 2021). Studies were screened using a priori criteria. Data from each study were extracted by two independent reviewers and organized using a standardized table. Data were pooled and presented in forest plots.ResultsThirteen studies were included in the final analysis. Four were prospective randomized trials, and nine used a retrospective comparative design. The patients aged between 32.1 (SD 14.6) years and 51.9 (SD 18.9) years. Based on the pooled analyses, overall, 3D printing-assisted surgery decreased operation time by 38.8 minutes (95% CI: -54.9, -22.8), intraoperative blood loss by 259.7 ml (95% CI: -394.6, -124.9), instrumentation time by 34.1 minutes (95% CI: -49.0, -19.1). Traditional surgery was less likely to achieve good/excellent function of hip (RR, 0.53; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.82) and more likely to have complications than 3D printing-assisted surgery (RR, 1.19; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.33).Conclusions3D printing technology demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of acetabular fractures. It may improve surgery-related and clinical outcomes. More prospective studies using a rigorous design (e.g., randomized trial with blinding) are warranted to confirm the long-term effects of 3D printing technology in orthopedics surgeries.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 34458367 · DOI · PMC8387177
Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO): from its local inception to its worldwide adoption [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- The development of the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is based on a structured approach starting with an analysis of the preexisting procedures to improve the coverage of the femoral head and was followed by a list of additional goals and improvements.
- Closing excerpt
- In retrospect, with almost 40 years of experience, such efforts have promoted a worldwide adoption of the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (175 words)
The development of the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) is based on a structured approach starting with an analysis of the preexisting procedures to improve the coverage of the femoral head and was followed by a list of additional goals and improvements. Cadaveric dissections with a detailed description of the vascular supply of acetabulum and periacetabular bone set the stage for an intrapelvic approach, which offered the largest acetabular correction possible combined with safe intracapsular access. The final composition of osteotomies required the development of several instruments and cutting devices before the feasibility could be tested on a series of cadaveric hips.While the sequence of the osteotomies remained largely unchanged over time (except for the pubic and ischial osteotomies), several propositions for an easier/less invasive approach have been discussed; some made it into standard practice. Efforts were undertaken to optimize the learning curve and minimize failures using video-clips, hands-on courses, fellowships, publications, and ongoing mentoring programs. In retrospect, with almost 40 years of experience, such efforts have promoted a worldwide adoption of the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 37917385 · DOI · PMC10622391
Periacetabular osteotomy provides durable correction and low arthroplasty conversion at ≥ 7 years: prospective middle eastern study [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundLong-term prospective data on periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) from Middle Eastern populations are limited.
- Closing excerpt
- Preoperative cartilage status and adequacy of correction are key determinants of outcome.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (118 words)
BackgroundLong-term prospective data on periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) from Middle Eastern populations are limited. This study evaluated ≥ seven year clinical, functional, and radiographic outcomes following PAO and identified predictors of survivorship.MethodsThirty-six consecutive patients (34.6 ± 7.2 years; 78% female) undergoing PAO (2014-2018) were prospectively followed. Inclusion required symptomatic dysplasia with Tönnis 0-2. Outcomes included HHS, WOMAC, HOS, SF-36, radiographic parameters (LCEA, AI), complications, and THA conversion. Reliability, multivariate regression, and Kaplan-Meier analyses were performed.ResultsAt 7.8 ± 1.2 years, HHS improved from 63.5 ± 11.2 to 89.6 ± 7.8 (p ConclusionsPAO achieved durable correction and sustained functional improvement with low THA conversion at mid- to long-term follow-up. Preoperative cartilage status and adequacy of correction are key determinants of outcome.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41954625 · DOI · PMC13179886
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Femoroacetabular impingement: a cause for osteoarthritis of the hip [5]
- Research article Reducing the risk of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty: the effect of orientation of the acetabular component [6]
- Research article Arthroscopic management of femoroacetabular impingement: osteoplasty technique and literature review [7]
- Research article Arthroscopy for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement in the athlete [8]
- Research article Prevention of Dislocation After Total Hip Arthroplasty [9]
- Research article The influence of sagittal spinal deformity on anteversion of the acetabular component in total hip arthroplasty [10]
References
- Tauviqirrahman M, Ammarullah MI, Jamari J, Saputra E, Winarni TI, Kurniawan FD, et al.. Analysis of contact pressure in a 3D model of dual-mobility hip joint prosthesis under a gait cycle. . 2023. PMID 36864170 · DOI · PMC9981612
- Cao J, Zhu H, Gao C. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 3D Printing Technology for the Treatment of Acetabular Fractures. . 2021. PMID 34458367 · DOI · PMC8387177
- Ganz R, Leunig M. Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO): from its local inception to its worldwide adoption. . 2023. PMID 37917385 · DOI · PMC10622391
- Fahmy M, Abdelazeem AH, Shawky MA. Periacetabular osteotomy provides durable correction and low arthroplasty conversion at ≥ 7 years: prospective middle eastern study. . 2026. PMID 41954625 · DOI · PMC13179886
- Ganz R, Parvizi J, Beck M, Leunig M, Nötzli H, Siebenrock KA. Femoroacetabular impingement: a cause for osteoarthritis of the hip. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2003. PMID 14646708 · DOI
- Biedermann R, Tonin A, Krismer M, Rachbauer F, Eibl G, Stöckl B. Reducing the risk of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty: the effect of orientation of the acetabular component. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2005. PMID 15911655 · DOI
- Philippon MJ, Stubbs AJ, Schenker ML, Maxwell RB, Ganz R, Leunig M. Arthroscopic management of femoroacetabular impingement: osteoplasty technique and literature review. Am J Sports Med. 2007. PMID 17420508 · DOI
- Philippon MJ, Schenker ML. Arthroscopy for the treatment of femoroacetabular impingement in the athlete. Clin Sports Med. 2006. PMID 16638493 · DOI
- Rowan FE, Benjamin B, Pietrak JR, Haddad FS. Prevention of Dislocation After Total Hip Arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2018. PMID 29525344 · DOI
- Phan D, Bederman SS, Schwarzkopf R. The influence of sagittal spinal deformity on anteversion of the acetabular component in total hip arthroplasty. Bone Joint J. 2015. PMID 26224815 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-31.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.