Treatment of Tile C pelvic nonunions and malunions via the lateral rectus approach combined with the modified Starr pelvic reduction frame / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the surgical technique and the clinical efficacy of the lateral-rectus approach with traction reduction by the modified Starr pelvic reduction frame for Tile C pelvic nonunions and malunions.Methods:Data of 7 patients with Tile C pelvic nonunions and malunions from June 2017 to June 2018 who were treated via the lateral-rectus approach combined with traction reduction by the modified Starr pelvic reduction frame were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 males and 2 females, aged from 22 to 53 (mean, 40 years). The injury mechanism included 3 cases of car accident injury, 3 of falling injury and 1 of crushing injury. The reasons for retreatment were pain in 7 cases, inability to walk and sit in 3, unequal length of lower limbs and lameness in 3. According to Tile classification, there were 4 cases of C1 type, 2 of C2 type and 1 of C3 type. A complete pelvic model with equal size as the patient’s pelvis was 3D-printed out according to three-dimensional reconstruction CT. The osteotomy or release site was designed, and the preoperative plan was detailed. Expose and release via the lateral rectus approach combined with traction reduction was conducted using the modified Starr pelvic reduction frame. Operative time, intraoperative blood loss and postoperative complications were collected. Visual analogue scale (VAS) at 6 months after surgery were recorded. Majeed score was used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. The quality of fracture reduction was evaluated by the Mears-Velyvis radiological evaluation criterion at the latest follow-up.Results:The operation time was 140-280 min, with an average of 190 min. The intraoperative blood loss was 700-2,800 ml, with an average of 1,250 ml. In 6 cases, the final fixation was performed at one time, while 1 case of Tile C3 type was performed in two stages. All patients were followed up for 10-22 months, and all the fractures healed. The mean time of bony union was 8 weeks (range, 6-12 weeks). The VAS of the 7 patients was improved from an average of 6.4 points to an average of 0.7 points during 6 months postoperative follow-up. The Majeed clinical efficacy score of the latest follow-up was improved from the average 60 points preoperative to 85 points postoperative. According to the Mears-Velyvis radiological evaluation criterion, the satisfaction rate reached 85.7%(6/7). After operation, 1 case occurred obturator nerve injury who recovered within 3 months, and 1 case remained limb shortening deformity of 1 cm. There was no fixation failure.Conclusion:The anterior osteotomy via the lateral-rectus approach can fully cut off nonunions and malunions of the pelvis, effectively release the soft tissues around the osteotomy site, with minimal surgical trauma and low risks of neurovascular injuries. Combined the modified Starr pelvic reduction frame, it can effectively correct pelvic deformities, lower limb rotation and unequal length deformities to achieve the expected effect of surgery.