Minimally invasive transiliac plate osteosynthesis for type C injuries of the pelvic ring: a clinical and radiological follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate radiological and functional outcome in patients treated with minimally invasive transiliac plate osteosynthesis for unstable pelvic injuries.

DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of a prospective treatment protocol in a consecutive patient series.

SETTING: Level 1 trauma center.

PATIENTS: Between January 1998 and December 2005, 31 patients with type C injuries of the pelvic ring were treated with minimally invasive transiliac plate osteosynthesis. According to the AO classification, 16 patients had a C1-injury, 9 had a C2 fracture, and 6 patients sustained a C3 injury of the pelvic ring. Anterior-posterior, inlet, and outlet radiographs were obtained preoperatively, immediately postoperatively, and during follow-up. Clinical outcome was determined according to the Hannover pelvic outcome score.

INTERVENTION: Posterior plate osteosynthesis for type C injuries of the pelvic ring.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENT: Preoperative and postoperative dislocation of the posterior pelvic ring, loss of reduction, implant failure, implant removal, clinical results of the pelvic injury and general limitations following the trauma.

RESULTS: Maximum average dislocation of the posterior pelvic ring was 16.1 mm preoperatively; postoperatively, it was 6.1 mm. A total of 23 patients (74.2%) could be followed up after an average of 20 months (range 7-57 months). Seven patients underwent follow-up treatment at other hospitals closer to their respective residences, whereas 1 patient passed away in the early postoperative phase due to multiorgan failure. Loss of reduction occurred in 2 cases. The clinical outcome regarding the pelvis was very good in 8 cases, good in 9 cases, fair in 4 cases, and poor in 2 cases. Social reintegration according to the Hannover pelvic outcome score was complete in 9 cases, poor in 10 cases, and incomplete in 10 cases.

CONCLUSION: Posterior plate osteosynthesis is a sufficiently stable method for the treatment of unstable pelvic ring injuries with a low risk of iatrogenic nervous tissue and vascular lesions. The disadvantages are limited reduction possibilities, the necessity of bilateral bridging of the sacroiliac joint in a unilateral injury, as well as a higher rate of symptomatic hardware.