Recurrent symphysitis culminating in pelvic ring fracture after hyperextended transurethral prostate resection and vaporization with symphysis erosion: a case report

As recently analyzed by Gilfrich and colleagues on the basis of over 95,000 cases, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) represents the most common surgical treatment approach for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in Germany [1]. Yet, the proportion of its use has decreased during recent years because of the increasing use of laser technique-based procedures [1]. Side effects and complications of TURP are repeatedly reported in the literature. Perioperative complications associated with TURP are known to differ depending on the usage of monopolar or bipolar techniques [2].

Bleeding, consecutive blood transfusions, and transurethral resection (TUR) syndrome are the most relevant intraoperative complications [3‐5]. Complications of the short-term and midterm follow-up are urethral stricture [6], bladder neck obstruction, or recurrent adenoma [7]. Perforation of the capsule of the prostate has been described rarely [8]. However, those perforations have seldom led to significant long-term complications.

In this case report we describe a patient with recurrent symphysitis culminating in pelvic ring fracture as a midterm complication following hyperextended prostate and capsule resection and electrovaporization with symphysis erosion as a very rare and not yet reported complication of transurethral surgical cure of benign prostate hyperplasia.

A 79-year-old white man (born in 1937) presented for the first time at our urology department in June 2016. He had several relevant comorbidities: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, infrarenal aneurysm of the abdominal aorta, status post-sigma resection due to acute diverticulitis in 2011, obesity, peripheral vascular disease stage IIa, arteriosclerosis with occlusion of left external iliac artery, several allergies to antibiotics, arterial hypertension, left heart insufficiency, and hyperlipidemia.

He was initially admitted due to acute suprapubic pain on the basis of an acute symphysitis. He had several previous urologic surgeries which are displayed in chronological order in Table 1.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a fistulation between his bladder and a collection in the lower abdominal wall attached to the symphysis with an extended inflammatory reaction of all involved osseous structures and soft tissue (Fig. 1). Endoscopic evaluation did then show an excessively resected prostate capsule and an erosion of the ventral part of the capsule. Resection in this area revealed osseous structure which was histologically confirmed (Fig. 2). His postoperative recovery was slow. In August 2016 an inguinal/periscrotal abscess formation had to be treated surgically. This abscess was most probably related to the persisting fistulation resulting from the previous surgeries.

As his mobility steadily decreased and he had massive pelvic pain in the following weeks, a ring fracture of the pelvis, most probably on the basis of the destabilizing recurrent symphysitis, was diagnosed radiologically (Figs. 3 and 4).

In October 2016 we explored his suprapubic region surgically. The fistulation was detected in the transition zone from bladder neck and prostate capsule as expected. In order to definitely cure the fistulation of the prostate capsule and symphysis we performed a total fistula excision and coverage with bladder flap. In the postoperative course he recovered quickly and was discharged 12 days after the surgery. He is regularly seen and conservatively treated in our orthopedic department and he did not have to undergo further surgeries.

Over the last decades TURP has been the primary method to relieve bladder outlet obstruction for patients with benign disease. The procedure has been improved over the years resulting in significant decreases of mortality and morbidity. A gland larger than 45 g, an operative time longer than 90 minutes, and surgery after acute urinary retention are seen as risk factors for increased postoperative morbidity [9]. In a large-scale prospective multicenter evaluation in Germany comprising 44 mostly non-academic urological departments, Reich and colleagues confirmed that morbidity and mortality rates of TURP were closely related to the resection weight [4]. The patient in this case had a primary resection weight of 29 g, thus a considerably small value. However, nothing is known about the learning curve position of both the primary and the secondary surgeon. In addition, his second transurethral procedure, 5 years later in February 2016 revealed a residual adenoma of an additional 18 g (transrectal ultrasound), which was located predominantly in the apical region. Analyzing over 20,000 men from Austria, Madersbacher and co-workers reported a secondary surgical procedure after initial TURP necessary due to functional insufficiency of 5.8%, 12.3%, and 14.7% at 1, 5, and 8 years of follow-up, respectively [10]. This is in compliance with the case reported here. In fact, the risk of perioperative complications increases with the number of surgeries.

There is a high index of suspicion that the compromising damage to the capsule was produced during the secondary surgery because the patient’s pain increased and signs of symphysitis occurred after this second procedure.

Transurethral vaporization of the prostate (TUVP) as performed in this patient has been investigated in vitro by Reich et al. [11]. They reported a 15 to 20 times higher energy demand to be considered when applying the vaporization technique in order to achieve comparable results to conventional TURP. In addition, the authors found a remarkable decline in tissue removal of more than 50% for TUVP on pretreated tissue, which can only be compensated in vivo by an additional energy input. Compared to standard TURP, pure electrovaporization as done in this particular patient requires slower speed, higher voltage, and increased pressure application [11]. In this case, the second surgery in February 2016 was of 55 minutes’ duration, which was 10 minutes longer than the initial TURP in 2011. Thus, a high energy level over a considerably longer surgical time on a preoperated prostate can be assumed and is very likely the reason for the capsule destruction. Combination of monopolar resection and vaporization may have further increased the risk of wall rupture. Since TUVP took place in another institution no data were available regarding the respective energy settings, although those settings, if extended, might represent an additional negative factor.

Pubic symphysitis has been reported as a rare complication after TURP by Ziesel et al. who found 12 cases among 12,118 patients having undergone TURP over 15 years [12]. The authors could not find a single cause for developing symphysitis but remarked an overrepresentation of suprapubic trocar placement, chronic prostatic inflammation, and extended resection. In addition, they concluded that inflammatory, thermic, and/or surgical damage of the capsule were likely to be causative which is in accordance with the case reported here.

All of the above-mentioned factors combined may easily explain how the capsule perforation occurred in this patient and led to the described subsequent complications.

In the subsequent follow-up it took several months to finally detect the cause of the symphysitis, fistula development, and resulting pelvic instability and ring fracture. The definitive diagnosis was completed by another endoscopic procedure. The surgical treatment approach led to definitive fistula resection and is experimental in nature.

The performed patient-tailored innovative surgical approach led to significantly decreased pain and improved the quality of life (QoL) of the patient. The pelvic ring fracture could be treated conservatively in the short-term follow-up of 6 months.

This is to the best of our knowledge the first case of a symphysitis after capsule perforation during transurethral ablative surgeries leading to instability of the complete pelvis. Urologists need to be aware of this rare complication after transurethral procedures.