Combined peripartal pubic symphysis and sacroiliac joint separation.

OBJECTIVE: We present a case and provide an overview of the literature on rare pelvic girdle injury following spontaneous delivery with combined transsymphyseal and transiliosacral instability, its diagnosis and surgical treatment. CASE REPORT: Injury of the pelvic girdle during childbirth is one of the rare obstetric complications. Due to its low prevalence, the standard treatment algorithm is not defined. We present the case of a 27-year-old primipara with a combined separation of the symphysis and sacroiliac joint after spontaneous childbirth, which did not become clinically apparent until several hours later. After the assessment of clinical findings and results of imaging examinations, we indicated the patient for surgical revision due to significant pain syndrome and movement restrictions. Under general anesthesia, we reduced symphysis in an open manner and fixed it with a pelvic plate. We also fixed the injured sacroiliac joint after a closed reduction with a percutaneously inserted iliosacral screw. On the second postoperative day, the patient was mobilized on crutches. On the fourth postoperative day, the patient was discharged from the hospital. The patient was followed up at regular intervals postoperatively. One year after the injury, the pelvic girdle is clinically stable and the patient has no complaints. CONCLUSION: An injury of the pelvic girdle should be considered whenever postpartum patient complains of pain in the area of the symphysis or sacroiliacal joints after natural delivery. In such a case, after a basic imaging diagnosis, a consultation with a specialist with experience in the treatment of pelvic injuries is appropriate. When selecting the most appropriate surgical technique, the nature of injury itself and also early patient mobilisation to be able provide adequate care for her newborn, should be taken into account. Early surgical treatment using stable osteosynthesis helps to address this  requirement.

Does Erector Spinae Plane Block Decrease Analgesia Requirements After Minimal-Invasive Posterior Transpedicular Stabilization in Patients With Vertebral Body Fracture? A Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Study.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized placebo controlled double blind trial. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of ESP block after minimally invasive posterior stabilization for vertebral fractures on opioid consumption, pain, blood loss, disability level, and wound healing complications. METHODOLOGY: Patients indicated for minimal invasive posterior stabilisation were included to the study. Our primary outcome was the opioid consumption and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) measured during the first 48 hours. Secondary outcomes used to measure the short-term outcome included Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Patient Reported Outcome Spine Trauma (PROST). RESULTS: In total, 60 patients were included with a 93.3% follow-up. Average morphine consumption during the PACU (Post Anaesthesia Care Unit) period was 5.357 mg in ESP group and 8.607 mg in placebo group (P = .004). Average VAS during first 24 hour was 3.944 in ESP group and 5.193 in placebo group (P = .046). Blood loss was 14.8 g per screw in ESP group and 15.4 g in placebo group (P = .387). The day2 PROST value was 33.9 in ESP group and 28.8 in placebo group (P = .008) and after 4 weeks 55.2 in ESP group and 49.9 in placebo group (P = .036). No significant differences in ODI were detected. CONCLUSION: The use of ESP block in minimally invasive spinal surgery for posterior fracture stabilization leads to a significant reduction of opioid consumption during PACU stay by 37.7%. Reduction of opioid consumption was accompanied with lower pain (VAS). We found positive effect of the ESP block on short term outcome scores, but no effect on perioperative blood loss and wound healing.