Hilgenreiner line

Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 27 Mar 2024

The Hilgenreiner line (also known as Y-line 2 or teardrop line 3) is a line drawn horizontally through the inferior portion of the iliac bones at the triradiate cartilages. This equates to drawing a line through the triradiate cartilages and pushing it cranially until it touches the iliac bone on both sides.

This line is used in many situations and is particularly useful as a baseline for drawing Perkin line, and in the measurement of the acetabular angle and Reimers migration index. It is also used when calculating the International Hip Dysplasia Institute classification, used for the diagnosis and assessment of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH).

History and etymology

It is named after the German surgeon Heinrich Hilgenreiner (3 November 1870 - 24 October 1954) 4.

See also

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