Iranian Journal of Orthopedic Surgery

Abstract Background: Unstable pelvic fractures are major orthopaedic injuries with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Open surgical stabilization is the standard treatment for a great number of them. Percutaneous surgical fixation has become an accepted treatment method in last several years. We would like to report our experience with this relatively, newer technique in a small mixed group of unstable pelvic ring fractures.Methods: This is a report of 16 cases (13 males, 3 females) with mean age of 31±8 years of pelvic and acetabular fractures who received percutaneous iliosacral or iliopubic screw fixation, under C-arm imaging control, and had a 6 months period of clinical and radiographic follow-up.Results: All 16 cases had healed their fractures at follow-up and had full weight-bearing status. 12 cases returned to their pre-fracture activities. One screw break and one wound infection were the complications list. There was no neurological deficit, and average blood loss was 10 milliliters.Conclusion: Percutaneous iliosacral or iliopubic screw fixation for, respectively, posterior pelvic ring or anterior column acetabular injuries are useful surgical treatment options with low complication rates.

Abstract Background: Acetabular fracture is usually due to severe trauma and it is often accompanied with other comorbidities.  Most often the treatment of choice is open reduction and internal fixation. There are early and late complications of surgical treatment. In this study we tried to investigate early complications including nerve injury, infection, heterotopic ossification and thromboembolism among our patients.Methods: In this prospective descriptive epidemiologic study, 46 patients (39 men, 7 women) with the mean age of 34.3 years old (range of 17–71 years) who had undergone open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fracture in a 3 year period in two teaching hospitals in Ahwaz were studied for their early complications. The follow ups had a range of 3 to 35 months (mean: 11 months).Results: From 46 patients, 34 had type A and 12 type B acetabular fractures (based on AO classification).  There were 5 cases (10.9%) of iatrogenic peroneal nerve injury, 6 (13%) infection, and 12 (26.1%) heterotopic ossification. There was no case of thromboembolism.Conclusion: Acetabular fracture fixation is generally associated with high complication rate. Our cases had unexpectedly, more complications in comparsion to similar reports.