Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40624908›Full record

ArticleAnnals of medicine2025

Evaluated anatomical variations in children by sacrococcygeal ultrasonography as a new tool: a report from a Chinese tertiary hospital.

Shan Wang, Lei Hu, Xin-Lu Yang, Ting-Ting Yan, Chun-Lin Xie, Sheng Wang, Ying Liu, Xiao-Qing Chai, Ling Zhou, Wei Gao

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Annals of medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Shan WangDepartment of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Lei HuDepartment of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Xin-Lu YangDepartment of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Ting-Ting YanDepartment of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Chun-Lin XieDepartment of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Sheng WangDepartment of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0723-8495
Ying LiuDepartment of Radiation, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Xiao-Qing ChaiDepartment of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Ling ZhouDepartment of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
Wei GaoDepartment of Anesthesiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAnatomical variations in the sacrococcygeal region can lead to complications such as accidental dural puncture during caudal block. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sacrococcygeal anatomical variations using ultrasonography and to evaluate the necessity of ultrasound guidance in sacral block procedures.

methodsUltrasound findings of sacrococcygeal anatomy were validated against magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). A detailed ultrasound protocol was subsequently applied to assess sacrococcygeal anatomy in pediatric patients.

resultsUltrasound and MRI demonstrated strong concordance in evaluating sacrococcygeal anatomy. The most common anatomical variation was a low-lying dural sac (16.2%), followed by incomplete sacral cornua (4.9%). The dural sac termination level was inversely associated with age (odds ratio: 0.996, 95% CI: 0.945-0.987;

conclusionComprehensive ultrasound scanning effectively identifies anatomical variations in the sacrococcygeal region of pediatric patients, which are highly prevalent. Routine preprocedural ultrasound examinations and ultrasound guidance during caudal block procedures are strongly recommended to enhance safety and accuracy.

Indexed as

Anatomic VariationSacrococcygeal RegionAdolescentAnesthesia, CaudalChildChild, PreschoolChinaCoccyxEast Asian PeopleFemaleHumansInfantMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleTertiary Care CentersUltrasonographyCaudal blockmagnetic resonance imagingsacrococcygeal anatomical variationsultrasound

Identifiers

PMID40624908
PMCPMC12239231

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