Skip to content
Epomedicine
Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

  • Medical Students
  • Bedside Clinics
  • Case Reports
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Blog
  • Surgical Skills
  • Medical Mnemonics
Epomedicine

Mnemonics, Simplified Concepts & Thoughts

Iliac Cortical Density (ICD)

Epomedicine, Jun 13, 2025Jun 13, 2025

Last updated on June 13, 2025

Synonym: Iliac Cortical Line

Iliac cortical densities (ICD) are the overlap of the true pelvis posterior to the acetabulum which is used as a proxy for the slope of the sacral ala.

iliac cortical density
Doi, Toshio & Tono, Osamu & Tarukado, Kiyoshi & Harimaya, Katsumi & Matsumoto, Yoshihiro & Hayashida, Mitsumasa & Okada, Seiji & Iwamoto, Yukihide. (2015). A new sagittal parameter to estimate pelvic tilt using the iliac cortical density line and iliac tilt: A retrospective X-ray measurement study. Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research. 10. 115. 10.1186/s13018-015-0262-0. [CC BY 4.0]

Importance:

The entry point should be anterior in S1 and inferior to the iliac cortical density (ICD), which parallels the sacral alar slope, usually slightly caudal and posterior. The ICD thus marks the anterosuperior boundary of the safe zone for an iliosacral screw which may injure the L5 nerve root if it penetrates this cortex.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS Musculoskeletal systemOrthopedics

Post navigation

Previous post
Next post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Epomedicine. Iliac Cortical Density (ICD) [Internet]. Epomedicine; 2025 Jun 13 [cited 2025 Jun 14]. Available from: https://epomedicine.com/medical-students/iliac-cortical-density-icd/.

Pre-clinical (Basic Sciences)

Anatomy

Biochemistry

Community medicine (PSM)

Embryology

Microbiology

Pathology

Pharmacology

Physiology

Clinical Sciences

Anesthesia

Dermatology

Emergency medicine

Forensic

Internal medicine

Gynecology & Obstetrics

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Orthopedics

Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)

Pediatrics

Psychiatry

Radiology

Surgery

RSS Ask Epomedicine

  • What to study for Clinical examination in Orthopedics?
  • What is the mechanism of AVNRT?

Epomedicine weekly

  • About Epomedicine
  • Contact Us
  • Author Guidelines
  • Submit Article
  • Editorial Board
  • USMLE
  • MRCS
  • Thesis
©2025 Epomedicine . All rights reserved.