Complications of surgical approaches for stabilization of pelvic ring injuries: Analysis of pitfalls and how to avoid them.

ABSTRACT

Pelvic-ring-injuries are bony and/or ligamentous disruptions that might lead to pelvic instabilities and asymmetries. For surgical treatment, knowledge of the different possible approaches and stabilization-techniques is essential. From 2003 to 2017, we analyzed all complications in operative and non-operative treatment of pelvic-ring-injuries in our institution. Besides complication rates, we describe the reachable anatomical structures for different surgical approaches to the pelvic-ring focusing on strategies to reduce surgical complications. Of 1848 patients with a pelvic fracture, 1463 patients had a pelvic-ring-fracture. We found an overall complication-rate of 14.4%. For reducing approach-related morbidity, preoperative planning and knowledge of approach-related complications is important.