A Countertraction Closed Reduction Technique in Minimally Invasive Fixation of Recent Type C Pelvic Ring Injuries.

OBJECTIVE: Closed reduction of pelvic injuries is a prerequisite and critical step in minimally invasive treatment. Achieving non-invasive closed reduction of pelvic injuries is a challenging clinical problem. This study demonstrated a non-invasive traction technique for closed reduction called countertraction closed reduction technique (CCRT) and evaluated its effectiveness for type C pelvic ring injuries. METHOD: The data of patients with unstable pelvic fractures treated with CCRT and minimally invasive fixation were retrospectively reviewed from January 2017 to February 2022. Sacroiliac screws were placed to fix the posterior pelvic ring, and internal or external fixation was used to fix the anterior pelvic ring. Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, duration of hospital stay, fracture union and postoperative complications were recorded. Fracture reduction quality was evaluated using the Matta scoring criteria. Functional recovery and general quality of life were evaluated using the Majeed functional scoring criteria. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (nine males and four females), with an average age of 49.6 years were treated with CCRT and followed up for a mean of 18.5 months. The average operation time was 137.2 minutes (range 92-195 minutes), the average intraoperative blood loss was 31.2 mL (range 10-120 mL) and the average duration of hospital stay was 14.3 days (range 4-32 days). All patients achieved bony union with an average union time of 11.9 weeks (range 10-16 weeks). According to the Matta radiographic criteria, the quality of fracture reduction was excellent in eight patients, good in four, and fair in one. The average Majeed functional score was 89.7 (range 78-100). The functional evaluation revealed that the outcomes were excellent in nine patients, and good in four patients. Complications included incision fat liquefaction in one patient, and heterotopic ossification in another patient. There were no surgical complications as a result of CCRT. CONCLUSION: CCRT is a non-invasive closed reduction method for minimally invasive fixation of fresh Tile C1 and C2 pelvic fractures. The advantages of CCRT combined with minimally invasive treatment include a small surgical incision, reduced intraoperative bleeding, satisfactory fracture reduction, bone healing and functional recovery.

Does a prehospital applied pelvic binder improve patient survival?

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic fractures are serious and oftentimes require immediate medical attention. Pelvic binders have become a critical tool in the management of pelvic injuries, especially in the prehospital setting. Proper application of the pelvic binder is essential to achieve the desired result. This study evaluates the effectiveness of prehospitally applied pelvic binders in improving outcomes for patients with pelvic fractures. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analyzed 66 patients with unstable pelvic ring fracture classified as AO61B or 61C, who were treated at a Level I hospital in the emergency room between January 2014 and December 2018. The ideal position for a pelvic binder was determined, and patients were divided into three sub-groups based on whether they received a pelvic binder in the ideal position, outside the optimal range, or not at all. The primary outcome measure was the survival rate of the patients. RESULTS: 66 trauma patients with unstable pelvic fractures were enrolled, with a mean age of 53.8 years, who presented to our ER between 2014 and 2018. The mean ISS score was 21.9, with 60.3 % of patients having a moderate to severe injury (ISS > 16 points). Pelvic binder usage did not differ significantly between patients with an ISS < or ≥ 16 points. A total of 9 patients (13.6 %) died during hospitalization, with a mean survival time of 8.1 days. The survival rate did not differ significantly between patients with or without a pelvic binder, or between those with an ideally placed pelvic binder versus those with a binder outside the ideal range. The ISS score, heart rate, blood pressure at admission, and hemoglobin level were significantly different between the group of patients who died and those who survived, indicating their importance in predicting outcomes. CONCLUSION: Our study found that prehospital pelvic binders did not significantly impact patient outcomes for unstable pelvic fractures, with injury severity score (ISS) being the strongest predictor of survival. Assessing injury severity and managing blood loss remain crucial for these patients. While pelvic binders may not impact survival significantly, they still play a role in stabilizing pelvic fractures and managing blood loss.

A case report of severe unstable pelvic fracture with extensive perineal destruction and Morel-Lavallee lesion, with literature review.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Unstable pelvic fractures in children are mainly caused by high-impact injuries, which are often combined with multiple injuries. A rare type of degloving injury named Morel-Lavallee lesion (MLL) is easily overlooked in obese children. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of unstable pelvic fracture combined with extensive perineal injury and MLL in an obese child was discussed. The general conditions, diagnosis, and treatment were summarized. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Unstable pelvic fractures are associated with extremely high disability and mortality rates and are often associated with hemorrhagic shock, urethral injury, or lower-extremity dysfunction. Clinicians need to be more alert to the possibility of MLL in obese children. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment with individualized surgical procedures are key to a good prognosis.

Vertical shear pelvic injury: evaluation, management, and fixation strategies.

Vertical shear pelvic ring fractures are rare and account for less than 1% of all fractures. Unlike severely displaced antero-posterior compression and lateral compression pelvic fractures, patients' mortality is lower. Nevertheless, patients must be managed acutely using well-defined ATLS protocols and institution-specific protocols for haemodynamically unstable pelvic ring fractures. The definitive treatment of vertical shear pelvic fractures is however more controversial with a paucity of literature to recommend the ideal reduction and fixation strategy. While the majority of injuries can be reduced and fixed in a closed manner, orthopaedic traumatologists should be familiar with the contraindications to those techniques as well as options such as tension band plating and lumbo pelvic fixation. Our paper reviews the acute management, associated injuries and definitive reduction and fixation strategies of vertical shear pelvic fractures. In addition, we propose a treatment algorithm for the selection of the most appropriate fixation technique.

A retrospective analysis of percutaneous SI joint fixation in unstable pelvic fractures: Our experience in armed forces.

BACKGROUND: Unstable posterior pelvic and sacroiliac joint injuries are challenging fractures mostly managed conservatively in our military hospitals till date. We carried out a retrospective analysis of early fixation of these fractures at our hospital and compared it with the existing literature as regards its safety and efficacy. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients admitted and managed by internal fixation for unstable posterior pelvic fractures was carried out for evaluation of its efficacy and safety. All patients with unstable posterior pelvic fractures were managed by early closed reduction percutaneous sacroiliac fixation using a radiolucent fracture table and image intensifier after a CT evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients were admitted with pelvic fractures, out of which 18 who had posterior pelvic ring injuries requiring fixation were included in the study. 21 percutaneous SI screws were inserted in 17 patients. All patients had satisfactory initial reduction as per Starr's criteria and recovered to their full - pre-injury functional status without any major intra-/postoperative complications, at a minimum of 12 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Unstable pelvic fractures must be managed by early reduction internal fixation to reduce morbidity and mortality arising out of such injuries. Closed reduction percutaneous fixation of these injuries is a safe procedure to be carried out in our set-up equipped with radiolucent fracture table and image intensifier by trained surgeons. The management of these injuries is likely to become easier in future with the advent of navigational aids in management of complex pelvic and acetabular fractures.

Therapeutic effects of minimally invasive adjustable and locking compression plate for unstable pelvic fractures via posterior approach.

OBJECTIVE: Unstable pelvic fractures are clinically complex injuries. Selecting appropriate treatment remains a challenging problem for orthopedic physicians. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical effects of minimally invasive adjustable plate and locking compression plate in treatment of unstable pelvic fractures via posterior approach. METHODS: From January 2009 to June 2012, fifty-six patients with unstable pelvic fractures were included. After at least 12-month follow-up, forty-four patients treated with two methods were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups: minimally invasive adjustable plate (group A) and locking compression plate (group B). Preoperative and postoperative radiography was taken to assess the fracture displacement and reduction quality. The size of incision, operation duration, blood loss, duration of X-ray exposures, Majeed postoperative functional evaluation and Lindahl postoperative reduction evaluation were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean follow-up in group A was 27.3 months (range, 13-48 months), and that in group B was 21.8 months (range, 12-42 months). There were no iatrogenic neurovascular injuries during the operations in the two groups. In group B, malunion was observed in one patient, and infection of incision was observed in one case. The operation duration, blood loss, and size of incision of group A were significantly less than that of group B. There was no significant difference in the duration of X-ray exposures between the two groups. The Majeed functional evaluation score in group A was significantly higher than that in group B. The difference of the imaging score of the retained displacement was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Both the two methods can effectively stabilize the unstable pelvic fractures. However, the minimally invasive adjustable plate has the advantages of minimally invasive, less radiation exposure, technically safe and time saving. Minimally invasive adjustable plate is a good supplementary option for treating posterior pelvic ring injuries.