Supraacetabular external fixation for pain control in geriatric type B pelvic injuries.

UNLABELLED: PURPOUSE OF THE STUDY: Pelvic ring fractures in the geriatric population are of increasing frequency. Often insufficiency fractures or occult fractures are described. With a classical injury mechanism the majority of these injuries are the result of a low energy trauma, typically a fall from standing or during walking.Clinically, many patients report immediate anterior groin pain but detailed clinical examination often shows significant posterior pelvic pain. CT evaluation often reveals posterior pelvic ring injury, in the majority of cases a sacral compression fracture. Despite adequate diagnostics, many of these patients suffer from persistent pain, which can be observed up to 8 weeks after injury. To asses the role of external fixator in pain relief and early mobilisation in this group of patients the study was performed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From the database of all patients with pelvic ring and acetabular injuries 25 patients > 65 years with type B injuries stabilized by a supraacetabular external fixator were analyzed. Prospectively demographic data including sex, patient age, cause of injury, frequency and type of concomitant injuries and diseases, injury severity,fracture type and complications were recorded. For evaluation of the pain course, the visual analog scale was used. Preoperative and postoperative mobility and the type of post-treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: Stabilizing the pelvic ring with a simple external fixation procedure (supraacetabular one pin external fixator) allows immediate relief of pain, which allows early and successful mobilization of these patients. Normally, adequate mobilization is possible immediate after application of the fixator. CONCLUSIONS: This simple operative procedure, therefore, can be used for pain control and sufficient mobilization to avoid secondary medical complications.

Transverse + posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum: epidemiology, operative management and long-term results.

UNLABELLED: PURPOUSE OF THE STUDY: Associated transverse and posterior wall fractures account for approximately 20% of all acetabular fractures. To asses the risk of these concommitant bone injuries on early joint failure despite a high rate of postoperative congruency. MATERIAL: The analysis of 104 surgically treated patients with associated transverse and posterior wall fractures showed that more than half of these patients had associated injuries. The mean age was 35 years, and > 75% of these patients were male. A high energy trauma was the trauma mechanism in 94.2%. The mean ISS was 26.3 points. The majority of patients showed a juxta- or transtectal fracture line. The mean articular fracture displacement was 13.5 mm. 87.5% of the patients showed a femoral head dislocation. An acetabular roof comminution was present in 16.3%. 20.2% of patients received a fracture related preoperative nerve injury to the sciatic nerve. METHODS: Osteosynthesis was performed 9.9 days after trauma. The Kocher-Langenbeck approach was used in > 90% for stabilization with a combination of plate and screw fixation in 71.1%. The mean operative time was 190 minutes with a blood loss of 855 ml. Postoperatively the hip joint was congruent in 90.3% with anatomical or near-anatomical joint reconstruction in > 90%. Iatrogenic nerve injury occurred in 12 patients (8.9%). RESULTS: 67 patients (67.7%) could be followed after a mean of 42.7 months. The average subjective Visual Analog Scale pain score was 42.7. Mild or no pain was seen in 58.2%. The mean Merle d'Aubigné score was 15.4 with 56.7% of patients having a functionally perfect or good result. 52.2% had no post-traumatic osteoarthritic changes of their hip joint. A joint failure was diagnosed in 32.8% of the patients. Analyzing only patients with anatomically reconstructed hip joints, patients showed comparable results with 61.3% having no or mild pain and 59.2% a good or excellent functional result. Posttraumatic arthrotic changes occur in only 26.5% of these patients. A joint failure was present in 32.7%. In this group, a joint failure was significantly more likely to be present with an additional acetabular comminution zone. CONCLUSION: Associated transverse and posterior wall fractures have a significant risk of early joint failure despite a high rate of postoperative congruency.