Surgical complications after fixation of minimally displaced lateral compression type 1 pelvic ring injuries

To review surgical complications after fixation of stress-positive minimally displaced (< 1 cm) lateral compression type 1 (LC1) pelvic ring injuries.

A retrospective study at a level one trauma center identified patients who received surgical fixation of isolated LC1 pelvic ring injuries. Surgical complications and additional procedures were reviewed.

Sixty patients were included. The median age was 61 years (Interquartile range 40–70), 65% (n = 39) were women, and 57% (n = 34) had high-energy mechanisms. Anterior–posterior, posterior-only, and anterior-only fixation constructs were used in 77% (n = 46), 15% (n = 9), and 8% (n = 5) of patients. Anterior fixation was performed with rami screw fixation in 82% (49/60), external fixation in 2% (1/60), and open reduction and plate fixation in 2% (1/60). There were 15 surgical complications in 23% (14/60), and 12 additional procedures in 17% (10/60). Complications included loss of reduction ≥ 1 cm (8%), symptomatic hematomas (8%), symptomatic backout of unicortical retrograde rami screws (5%), deep infection of the pelvic space after a retrograde rami screw (1.6%), and iatrogenic L5 nerve injury (1.6%). All losses of reduction involved geriatric females with distal rami fractures sustained in ground-level falls. Loss of reduction was found to be more likely in patients with low energy mechanisms (proportional difference (PD) 62%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 18% to 76%; p = 0.01) and 2 versus 1 posterior pelvic screws (PD 36%; CI 0.4% to 75%; p = 0.03).

Surgical complications and additional procedures routinely occurred after fixation of LC1 injuries. Patients should be appropriately counseled on the risks of surgical fixation of these controversial injuries.

Diagnostic, Level III.