Operative treatment of fragility fractures of the pelvis: a critical analysis of 140 patients.

BACKGROUND: Fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) are a clinical entity with an increasing frequency. Indications for and type of surgical treatment are still a matter of debate. PURPOSE: This retrospective study presents and critically analyses the results of operative treatment of 140 patients with FFP. SETTING: Level-I trauma center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Demographic data, comorbidities, FFP-classification, type of surgical stabilization (percutaneous (P-group) versus open procedure (O-group)), length of hospital stay (LoS), general in-hospital complications, surgery-related complications, living environment before admission, mobility and destination at discharge were retracted from the medical and radiographic records. Patients were asked participating in a survey by telephone call about their quality of life. SF-8 Physical Component Score (PCS) and SF-8 Mental Component Score (MCS) were calculated as well as the Parker Mobility Score (PMS) and the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). RESULTS: Mean age was 77.4 years and 89.3% of patients were female. 92.1% presented with one comorbidity, 49.3% with two or more comorbidities. Median length of hospital stay was 18 days, postoperative length of hospital stay was 12 days. 99 patients (70.7%) received a percutaneous operative procedure, 41 (29.3%) an open. Patients of the O-group had a significantly longer LoS than patients of the P-group (p = 0.009). There was no in-hospital mortality. There were significantly more surgery-related complications in the O-group (43.9%) than in the P-group (19.2%) (p = 0.006). Patients of the O-group needed more often surgical revisions (29.3%) than patients of the P-group (13.1%) (p = 0.02). Whereas 85.4% of all patients lived at home before admission, only 28.6% returned home at discharge (p < 0.001). The loss of mobility at discharge was not influenced by the FFP-classes (p = 0.47) or type of treatment (p = 0.13). One-year mortality was 9.7%. Mortality was not influenced by the FFP-classes (p = 0.428) or type of treatment (p = 0.831). Median follow-up was 40 months. SF-8 PCS and SF-8 MCS were moderate (32.43 resp. 54.42). PMS was 5 and NRS 4. Follow-up scores were not influenced by FFP-classes or type of treatment. CONCLUSION: Patients with FFP, who were treated operatively, suffered from a high rate of non-lethal general, in-hospital complications. Open surgical procedures induced more surgery-related complications and surgical revisions. Mental and physical follow-up scores are low to moderate. Condition at follow-up is not influenced by FFP-classes or type of treatment. Indications for operative treatment of FFP must be critically examined. Surgical fixation should obtain adequate stability, yet be as less invasive as possible. The advantages and limitations of different surgical techniques have to be critically evaluated in prospective studies.

Operative treatment of fragility fractures of the pelvis is connected with lower mortality. A single institution experience.

BACKGROUND: Fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) represent an increasing clinical entity. Until today, there are no guidelines for treatment of FFP. In our center, recommendation for operative treatment was given to all patients, who suffered an FFP type III and IV and to patients with an FFP type IIwith unsuccessful non-operative treatment. We performed a retrospective observational study and investigated differences between fracture classes and management alternatives. We hypothetized that operative treatment may reduce mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical charts and radiographs of 362 patients were analysed. Patient demographics, FFP-classification, length of hospital stay (LoS), type of treatment, general and surgery-related complications, mortality, Short Form-8 physical component score (SF-8 PCS) and mental component score (SF-8 MCS), Parker Mobility Score (PMS) and Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) were documented. RESULTS: 238 patients had FFP type II and 124 FFP type III and IV. 52 patients with FFP type II (21.8%) and 86 patients with FFP type III and IV (69.4%) were treated operatively (p<0.001). Overall mortality did not differ between the fracture classes (p = 0.127) but was significantly lower in the operative group (p<0.001). Median LoS was significantly higher in FFP type III and IV (p<0.001) and in operated patients (p<0.001). There were more in-hospital complications in patients with FFP type III and IV (p = 0.001) and in the operative group (p = 0.006). More patients of the non-operative group were mobile (p<0.001) and independent (p<0.001) at discharge. Half of the patients could not return in their living environment.203 of the 235 surviving patients (86%) answered the questionnaires after a mean follow-up time of 38 months. SF-8 PCS, SF-8 MCS and PMS did not differ between the fracture classes and treatment groups. Pain perception was higher in the operated group (p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: In our study, we observed that operative treatment of FFP provides low mortality rates, although LoS and in-hospital complications were higher in the operative group. At discharge, the non-operative group was more mobile and independent. At follow up, quality of life and mobility were comparable between the groups. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the impact of operative treatment of FFP on mortality and functional outcome.