Authors:	Herteleer, Michiel Boudissa, Mehdi Hofmann, Alexander Wagner, Daniel Rommens, Pol Maria
Title:	Plate fixation of the anterior pelvic ring in patients with fragility fractures of the pelvis
Online publication date:	20-Oct-2022
Year of first publication:	2022
Language:	english
Abstract:	Introduction In fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP), fractures of the posterior pelvic ring are nearly always combined with fractures of the anterior pelvic ring. When a surgical stabilization of the posterior pelvis is performed, a stabilization of the anterior pelvis is recommended as well. In this study, we aim at finding out whether conventional plate osteosynthesis is a valid option in patients with osteoporotic bone. Materials and methods We retrospectively reviewed medical charts and radiographs of all patients with a FFP, who underwent a plate osteosynthesis of the anterior pelvic ring between 2009 and 2019. Patient demographics, fracture characteristics, properties of the osteosynthesis, complications and revision surgeries were documented. Single plate osteosynthesis (SPO) at the pelvic brim was compared with double plate osteosynthesis (DPO) with one plate at the pelvic brim and one plate anteriorly. We hypothesized that the number and severity of screw loosening (SL) or plate breakage in DPO are lower than in SPO. Results 48 patients with a mean age of 76.8 years were reviewed. In 37 cases, SPO was performed, in 11 cases DPO. Eight out of 11 DPO were performed in patients with FFP type III or FFP type IV. We performed significantly more DPO when the instability was located at the level of the pubic symphysis (p = 0.025). More patients with a chronic FFP (surgery more than one month after diagnosis) were treated with DPO (p = 0.07). Infra-acetabular screws were more often inserted in DPO (p = 0.056). Screw loosening (SL) was seen in the superior plate in 45% of patients. There was no SL in the anterior plate. There was SL in 19 of 37 patients with SPO and in 3 of 11 patients with DPO (p = 0.16). SL was localized near to the pubic symphysis in 19 of 22 patients after SPO and in all three patients after DPO. There was no SL in DPO within the first month postoperatively. We performed revision osteosynthesis in six patients (6/48), all belonged to the SPO group (6/37). The presence of a bone defect, unilateral or bilateral anterior pelvic ring fracture, post-operative weight-bearing restrictions, osteosynthesis of the posterior pelvic ring, and the presence of infra- or supra-acetabular screws did not significantly influence screw loosening in SPO or DPO. Conclusion There is a high rate of SL in plate fixation of the anterior pelvic ring in FFP. In the vast majority, SL is located near to the pubic symphysis. DPO is associated with a lower rate of SL, less severe SL and a later onset of SL. Revision surgery is less likely in DPO. In FFP, we recommend DPO instead of SPO for fixation of fractures of the anterior pelvic ring, which are located in or near to the pubic symphysis.
DDC:	610 Medizin 610 Medical sciences
Institution:	Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Department:	FB 04 Medizin
Place:	Mainz
ROR:	https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI:	http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-7500
Version:	Published version
Publication type:	Zeitschriftenaufsatz
License:	CC BY
Information on rights of use:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Journal:	European journal of trauma and emergency surgery 48
Pages or article number:	3711 3719
Publisher:	Springer Medizin
Publisher place:	Heidelberg
Issue date:	2022
ISSN:	1863-9941
Publisher DOI:	10.1007/s00068-021-01625-z
Appears in collections:	JGU-Publikationen