Are work return and leaves of absence after acetabular fractures predictable?

Background

To test if complexity of acetabular fractures, pre-trauma health status, time from trauma to definitive surgery, severity of injury or job characteristics influence work resumption, return to the same professional position and time out of work.

Materials and methods

We performed a retrospective study on patients with surgically treated acetabular fractures. Medical records were reviewed to analyse demographics, follow-up, diagnosis (Letournel classification), type of surgical treatment, co-morbidities, time from trauma to definitive surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (ASA) and associated injuries. Patients were interviewed about the amount of leaves of absence and whether they returned to the same professional position.

Results

The study included 108 patients whose mean age was 44 ± 11 years. Median time out of work was 180 days. Eleven patients lost their job and 23 patients returned to a different professional position. Univariable analysis showed: (a) the risk of losing the job was higher for patients who had been admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) (p = 0.018), (b) returning to the identical position was more likely in patients who were older (p = 0.006), sedentary workers (p = 0.003), and with shorter time from trauma to definitive surgery (p = 0.003). Multivariable linear regression showed that leaves of absence were longer in patients with higher ASA scores, who had been admitted to ICU, or were not sedentary workers.

Conclusions

Work reintegration after acetabular fractures is a main issue for the patient and social systems: only 69 % of patients returned to their previously held professional position. Time out of work was not found to be related to fracture type but to pre-trauma health status, ICU admission and sedentary jobs.

Level of evidence

III.

     

What are the risk factors for complications after combined injury of the pelvic ring and acetabulum?

Purpose

Combined acetabular and pelvic ring injuries represent a unique subset of pelvic trauma and little is known regarding their complications and outcomes. We sought to further evaluate these injury patterns and quantify their outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective review at a single level 1 trauma center was performed on all patients with operatively treated combined ring and acetabulum injuries during a seven-year period. Main outcome measurements include all-cause complication including residual neurologic deficit, deep infection, conversion to total hip arthroplasty, deep venous thrombosis and mortality.

Results

Seventy operatively treated combined ring and acetabulum patients with one-year follow-up were reviewed. The overall complication rate was 44%. Hip dislocation occurred in 40% of the cohort and was significantly associated with residual neurologic deficit and all-cause complication. Angiography with embolization was not associated with an increased rate of deep infection. Open acetabular approaches had a significantly higher complication rate compared to percutaneous procedures. Delay to definitive fixation greater than 36 h trended toward but did not reach association with all complications.

Conclusion

Combined injuries to the acetabulum and pelvic ring have high rates of complications. No individual fracture patterns were identified as risk factors, but hip dislocation was associated with an increased rate of complications. When possible, percutaneous reduction and fixation of acetabular fractures and early definitive fracture fixation lead to lower rates of complications. Use of angiography with embolization appears to be safe and does not increase the risk of infection or other complications.

     

Are occult fractures of the hip and pelvic ring mutually exclusive?

We have evaluated retrospectively the relationship of bony injuries seen on 106 consecutive MR scans in elderly patients of a mean age of 81.4 years (67 to 101) who were unable to bear weight after a low-energy injury. There were no visible fractures on plain radiographs of the hip but eight patients (7.5%) had fractures of the pubic ramus. In 43 patients (40.5%) MRI revealed a fracture of the femoral neck and in 26 (24.5%) there was a fracture of a pubic ramus. In 17 patients (16%) MRI showed an occult sacral fracture and all of these had a fracture of the pubic ramus. No patient with a fracture of the femoral neck had an associated fracture of the pelvic ring or vice versa. Occult fracture of the hip and of the pelvic ring appear to be mutually exclusive and if an acute fracture of the pubic ramus is diagnosed radiologically further investigations are not needed to rule out an occult fracture of the hip.     

Does temporary bridge plate fixation preserve joint motion after an unstable Lisfranc injury?

BackgroundRecently, temporary bridge plate fixation has gained popularity in the treatment of unstable Lisfranc injuries. The technique aims to reduce the risk of posttraumatic osteoarthritis, and after plate removal, the goal is to regain joint mobility. Here we explore marker-based radiostereometric analysis (RSA) to measure motion in the 1st tarsometatarsal (TMT) joint and asses the radiological outcome in patients treated with this surgical technique.MethodTen patients with an unstable Lisfranc injury were included. All were treated with a dorsal bridge plate over the 1st TMT joint and primary arthrodesis of the 2nd and 3rd TMT joints. The plate was removed four months postoperatively. Non- and weight-bearing RSA images were obtained one and five years postinjury to assess joint mobility and signs of osteoarthritis.ResultsDetectable 1st TMT joint motion was observed in 2/10 patients after one year, and 6/9 patients after five years. At the final follow-up, mean 1st TMT dorsiflexion was 2.0°. Radiologically, the incidence of posttraumatic osteoarthritis was present in 4/10 patients after one year, and 5/9 patients after five years. All patients had observed TMT joint stability throughout the follow-up period.ConclusionPreservation of joint motion can be achieved with a temporary bridge plate fixation over the 1st TMT joint.Type of study/level of evidenceProspective cohort study/Therapeutically level IV.     

Fixation with Si alar iliac screws for unstable injury to posterior pelvic ring北大核心CSCD

Objective To explore the fixation with S2 alar iliac screws (S2AI) for unstable injury to the pelvic posterior ring.Methods The clinical data of 18 patients were analyzed retrospectively who had been treated for unstable injury to the posterior pelvic ring by S2AI screw fixation at Division of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Department of Orthopaedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University and at Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, The First Affiliated Hospital to University of South China from September 2017 to December 2020.They were 8 males and 10 females, with an average age of 40 years (from 20 to 64 years).According to Tile classification, there were 3 cases of type B2, 10 cases of type CI and 5 cases of type C2.Sacral nerve injury was complicated in 3 patients (2 cases of Gibbons grade 11 and one of Gibbons grade m ) .Short-segment S1-S2AI fixation was used in 6 cases, contralateral Sj-SsAI fixation in one case, lumbar-pelvic fixation in 5 cases, and sacroiliac triangle fixation in 6 cases.The accuracy of S2AI placement was e-valuated by CT after operation according to the Shillingford method; the reduction quality of pelvic fractures and complications were documented.Results All the 18 patients were followed up for 19.8 months (from 12 to 36 months).Bony union was achieved in all fractures.A total of 21 S2AI were implanted in the 18 patients without intraoperative neurovascular injury.Postoperative CT found penetration into the iliac cortex by S2AI in 2 cases.According to the Malta criteria, the fracture reduction was excellent in 10 cases, good in 7 and fair in one.Of the 3 patients with preoperative sacral nerve injury, 2 with grade 11 injury recovered to grade I and one with grade IH injury recovered to grade 11 after operation.Superficial infection occurred at the incision site in 2 patients after operation, and complications such as protrusion, rupture or loosening of implants were observed in none of the patients.Conclusion S2AI fixation can be flexibly applied to various types of posterior pelvic ring injury and can provide the pelvic ring and the lumbosacral junction with rigid fixation, leading to a low complication rate. © The Author(s) 2022.     

How bilateral iliolumbar fusion increases the stability of horizontal osteosynthesis in unstable pelvic ring injuries?

Objective

In type C pelvic ring injuries, the operative stabilization of the posterior ring is absolutely indicated. There exist four different types of operative methods: iliosacral screw fixation, transsacral plate synthesis, ventral plate fixation (primarily for sacroiliac luxations), and local plate synthesis performed on the dorsal cortex of the sacrum. In our current article, we analyzed the stability of fixation methods used together with bilateral iliolumbar techniques.

Methods

We analyzed a finite element pelvic model attached to lumbar 4–5 vertebrae. By imitating a standing position on two feet, we measured the differences in tension and displacement in T1 and T2 thoracic vertebrae fractures with and without iliolumbar fusion in cases of iliosacral screw fixation, transsacral plate synthesis and KFI-H (small fragment-H) plate synthesis.

Results

The osteosynthesises reinforced via Galveston technique were rather stable; the amount of displacement measured in the fracture gap was significantly less than in the cases without iliolumbar fusion. The tension in the implants were below the allowed values, therefore they were capable of withstanding the imposed loads without permanent deformation.

Conclusions

In unilateral pelvis injuries, if a non-weight bearing status cannot be achieved on the injured side, unilateral iliolumbar fusion reinforcement is justified, since the contralateral lower limb must also be non-weight bearing due to the pelvis injury itself. In the case of the most unstable sacrum fracture—“jumper’s fracture”, bilateral iliolumbar fusion is necessary, in which case the patient will be able to bear weight during the early postoperative period.     

Criteria for level 1 and level 2 trauma codes: Are pelvic ring injuries undertriaged?

AIM: To determine the association of unstable pelvic ring injuries with trauma code status.METHODS: A retrospective review of all pelvic ring injuries at a single academic center from July 2010 to June 2013 was performed. The trauma registry was used to identify level 1 and level 2 trauma codes for each injury. The computed tomography scans in all patients were classified as stable or unstable using the Abbreviated Injury Scale. Pelvic injury classifications in level 1 and level 2 groups were compared. Patient disposition at discharge in level 1 and level 2 groups were also compared.RESULTS: There were 108 level 1 and 130 level 2 blunt trauma admissions. In the level 1 group, 67% of pelvic injuries were classified as stable fracture patterns and 33% were classified as unstable. In the level 2 group, 62% of pelvic injuries were classified as stable fracture patterns and 38% were classified as unstable. level 1 trauma code was not associated with odds of having an unstable fracture pattern(OR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.48-1.41, P = 0.485). In the level 1 group with unstable pelvic injuries, 33% were discharged to home, 36% to a rehabilitation facility, and 32% died. In the level 2 group with unstable pelvic injuries, 65% were discharged to home, 31% to a rehabilitation facility, and 4% died. For those with unstable pelvic fractures(n = 85), assignment of a level 2 trauma code was associated with reduced odds of death(OR = 0.07, 95%CI: 0.01-0.35, P = 0.001) as compared to being discharged to home.CONCLUSION: Trauma code level assignment is not correlated with severity of pelvic injury. Because an unstable pelvis can lead to hemodynamic instability, these injuries may be undertriaged.     

Are antioxidant levels measured immediately postoperatively an indicator of magnitude of injury?

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the changes that occur in antioxidant levels in response to surgical trauma. The antioxidant system may influence recovery and healing after operation. Miller et al described a reliable assay for total antioxidant capacity of serum. We studied changes in antioxidant levels secondary to operation using this assay. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients were studied: 14 abdominal and 13 breast cancer operations. Initial blood samples were obtained when starting the preoperative intravenous line, the second in the recovery room, and every 6 hours thereafter. RESULTS: Levels did not correlate with diagnosis, extent of operation, age, body mass index, or complications. Differences between preoperative and postoperative values in the down and up groups were significant at P = 0.002 and P = 0.023, respectively. Differences in initial levels between the down and up groups were significant at P = 0.005. Levels 12 hours after operation were stable. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid return to a baseline of approximately 1 micromole/L, regardless of the direction of initial response, supports the concept of a set point for regulation of serum's antioxidant capacity.     

Assessment of Lateral Compression type 1 pelvic ring injuries by intraoperative manipulation: which fracture pattern is unstable?

Purpose

We performed a prospective study to document, by intra-operative manipulation under anaesthesia (MUA) of the pelvic ring, the stability of lateral compression type 1 injuries that were managed in a Level-I Trauma Centre. The documentation of the short-term outcome of the management of these injuries was our secondary aim.

Methods

A total of 63 patients were included in the study. Thirty-five patients (group A) were treated surgically whereas 28 (group B) were managed nonoperatively. Intraoperative rotational instability, evident by more than two centimetres of translation during the manipulation manoeuvre, was combined with a complete sacral fracture in all cases.

Results

A statistically significant difference was present between the length of hospital stay, the time to independent pain-free mobilisation, post-manipulation pain levels and opioid requirements between the two groups, with group A demonstrating significantly decreased values in all these four variables (p < 0.05). There was also a significant difference between the pre- and 72-hour post-manipulation visual analogue scale and analgesic requirements of the group A patients, whereas the patients in group B did not demonstrate such a difference.

Conclusion

LC-1 injuries with a complete posterior sacral injury are inheritably rotationally unstable and patients presenting with these fracture patterns definitely gain benefit from surgical stabilisation.     

Free abdominal fluid on ultrasound in unstable pelvic ring fracture: is laparotomy always necessary?

BACKGROUND: In unstable pelvic ring fractures free abdominal fluid on ultrasound (US) may be caused by retroperitoneal hematoma that passes into the abdominal cavity or by an additional intraabdominal lesion. In this study a clinical pathway for the therapy of potentially combined lesions was analyzed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients treated in the ED for severe trauma underwent basic sonographical and radiologic diagnostics within 15 minutes. of admission. Data were prospectively documented. According to the treatment protocol unstable pelvic ring fractures with initial free fluid on US received laparotomy. Patients with stable vital conditions had abdominal CT-Scan before surgery. RESULTS: 1472 consecutive severely injured patients (ISS 20, age: 39 years) were included. Eighty subjects had sustained type B (47) or C (33) pelvic ring fracture. Early free abdominal fluid on US was absent in 49 cases. Three patients in this group required celiotomy later on, during ICU treatment. In 31 patients free fluid was present. All of them had laparotomy. Only one patient showed retroperitoneal hematoma alone, while all others had one or more significant lesions (rupture) that required surgical repair. Simultaneously with laparotomy pelvic stabilization was performed by external (19) or internal (6) fixation. In all cases with massive pelvic hemorrhage and free fluid in US bleeding was controlled by internal tamponade and external fixation. CONCLUSION: The finding of intraperitoneal fluid on US in the emergency department strongly correlates with significant intraabdominal lesions requiring surgical intervention. Early laparotomy appears indicated in these cases. Shock control in pelvic bleeding can be sufficiently achieved by internal tamponade and external fixation.     

Are patients’ personal goals achieved after pelvic reconstructive surgery?

Introduction and hypothesis

Our goal was to describe patients’ personal treatment goals before pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) surgery and goals achieved and not achieved 12 months after surgery, and to evaluate the association between postoperative symptoms and successful goal achievement.

Materials and methods

We performed a secondary analysis using a de-identified database from a randomized trial comparing native tissue vs. graft-augmented rectocele repair. In their own words, women listed their top four treatment goals and 12 months after surgery whether those goals were or were not achieved. We categorized goals into symptom improvement (defecatory, bulge, incontinence, pain/discomfort) and functioning (physical, social, emotional, sexual). Women completed symptom questionnaires pre- and postoperatively. Goals were described using simple statistics. The association between defecatory, bulge, and incontinence symptoms and goal achievement was described using the chi-square test.

Results

Of 160 participants in the database, 125 (78 %) met inclusion criteria. The most common preoperative goals were improvement in bulge (26.7 %), defecation (23.9 %), urinary incontinence (18.1 %), and pain/discomfort (6.2 %). Functioning goal categories included: sexual (7 %), emotional (7 %), physical (6.2 %), and social function (3.3 %). Postoperatively, goal categories in which improvement was achieved were urinary continence (70.5 %), sexual function (58.8 %), bulge reduction (56.9 %), defecation (51.7 %), physical (33.3 %), emotional (29.4 %), and social functioning (25 %). Of the women reporting postoperative defecatory or incontinence symptoms, half reported successful improvement in both goals.

Conclusions

Women predominantly reported symptom-related goals, and those goals are most frequently achieved postoperatively. Of women who reported defecatory and incontinence symptoms postoperatively, many still reported successful goal achievement in those areas.     

Effect of a new pelvic stabilizer (T-POD®) on reduction of pelvic volume and haemodynamic stability in unstable pelvic fractures

Background

Pelvic fractures, often the result of high energy blunt trauma, are associated with severe morbidity and mortality. A new pelvic stabilizer (T-POD^®) provides secure and effective simultaneous circumferential compression of the pelvis.

Methods

In this study we describe 15 patients with a prehospital untreated unstable pelvic fracture with signs of hypovolaemic shock with the T-POD^®. Before and 2 min after applying the T-POD^®, heart rate and blood pressure were measured. An X-ray before and directly after applying the T-POD^® was made to measure the effect on reduction in symphyseal diastasis.

Results

Application of the T-POD^® reduced the symphyseal diastasis with 60% (p = 0.01). The mean arterial pressure (MAP) increased significant from 65.3 to 81.2 mm Hg (p = 0.03) and the heart rate declined from 107 beats per minute to 94 (p = 0.02). Out of ten patients in whom the circulatory response before and after the T-POD^® was recorded, seven were good responders, one had a transient response and two responded poor.

Conclusion

In the acute setting, the T-POD^® device has a clear compressive effect on the pelvic volume in unstable pelvic fractures. The T-POD^® is therefore an effective and easy to use device in (temporarily) stabilizing the pelvic ring in haemodynamically unstable patients.     

Do initial radiographs agree with crash site mechanism of injury in pelvic ring disruptions? A pilot study

OBJECTIVE: Direction of injury force inferred from pelvic radiographs may be used in trauma care to predict associated injuries and guide intervention. Our objective was to compare injury direction determined from anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiographs with injury forces determined from crash site investigation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied all 28 subjects from the Crash Injury Research Engineering Network (CIREN) database who met inclusion criteria of pelvic ring disruption, single-event crash, restrained front-seat occupant, diagnostic-quality pelvic radiography, and complete crash investigation data. Assessment of diagnostic quality of pelvic radiography was made by 2 radiologists who were blinded to all other subject information. Crash site investigation data included principal direction of force (PDOF), crash magnitude, and passenger compartment intrusion. An orthopedic trauma surgeon and a fellowship-trained emergency radiologist independently assessed the pelvic radiographs to determine the injury PDOF and the Young-Burgess and Tile fracture classifications, with disputes resolved by an additional emergency radiologist. Agreement between injury forces and pelvic radiographs was assessed using the kappa statistic. RESULTS: The PDOF was anterior in 9 (32%) and lateral in 19 (68%) subjects. The readers agreed with the crash primary direction of force in 21 (75%) subjects (kappa=0.42). In subjects with lateral PDOF, agreement was 89% (17/19) compared to 44% for anterior PDOF (4/9). Interobserver agreement for the Young and Tile classification schemes was moderate (weighted kappa 0.44 and 0.54, respectively). CONCLUSION: Crash site investigation and pelvic radiography may provide conflicting information about primary direction of injuring forces. Presumed anterior impact based on PDOF is not in consistent agreement with the pattern of injury evident on the AP pelvic radiograph.     

Can preoperative radiographs predict hardware complication or fracture displacement after operative treatment of pelvic ring injuries?

IntroductionOperative fixation of pelvic ring injuries is associated with a high risk of hardware failure and loss of reduction. The purpose of this study was to determine whether preoperative radiographs can predict failure after operative treatment of pelvic ring injuries and if the method of fixation effects their risk.Patients and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of 143 patients with pelvic ring injuries treated with operative fixation at a level 1 trauma center. Preoperative radiographs were examined for the presence of the following characteristics: bilateral rami fractures, segmental or comminuted rami fractures, contralateral anterior and posterior injuries, complete sacral fracture, and displaced inferior ramus fractures. The method of fixation was classified based on the presence of anterior, posterior, or combined anterior and posterior fixation as well as whether or not posterior fixation was performed at a single or multiple sacral levels. Post-operative radiographs were examined for hardware failure or loss of reduction.ResultsTwenty-one patients (14.7%) demonstrated either hardware complication or fracture displacement within 6 months of surgery. Male sex was associated with a decreased risk of hardware complication (OR 0.11 [0.014, 0.86]; p=0.03). Posterior pelvic ring fixation at multiple sacral levels was associated with a decreased risk of fracture displacement (OR 0.21 [0.056, 0.83]; p=0.02). We were unable to demonstrate a significant association between preoperative radiographic characteristics and risk of hardware failure or fracture displacement.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that both gender and the method of posterior fixation are associated with hardware failure or displacement.     

Does the presence of an upper extremity injury affect outcomes after major trauma?

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of information about the impact of upper extremity (UE) injuries on patient outcomes, particularly after major trauma. METHODS: Data were obtained from a statewide trauma registry. Cases were defined as major trauma cases (Injury Severity Score > 15) with (UE group) and without (no-UE group) an associated upper extremity injury. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of outcome. RESULTS: Major trauma patients with UE injury were 1.5 times (p = 0.011) more likely than the no-UE group to have a length of stay greater than 7 days. After adjusting for age, mechanism of injury, and Injury Severity Score, UE injury was not an independent predictor of discharge destination. CONCLUSION: In major trauma patients, the presence of an upper extremity injury is a significant predictor of length of stay, indicating a greater complexity and cost of care associated with this group of major trauma patients.     

Vertically unstable pelvic fractures fixed with percutaneous iliosacral screws: does posterior injury pattern predict fixation failure?

OBJECTIVE: To measure the failure rate of percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation of vertically unstable pelvic fractures and particularly to test the hypothesis that fixations in which the posterior injury is a vertical fracture of the sacrum are more likely to fail than fixations with dislocations or fracture-dislocations of the sacroiliac joint. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Level 1 trauma center. METHODS: All patients with pelvic fractures admitted between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1998, were identified from the trauma registry. Hospital records were used to identify patients treated with iliosacral screws. Radiologic studies were examined to identify patients who had unequivocally vertically unstable pelvic fractures. Immediate postoperative and follow-up anteroposterior, inlet, and outlet radiographs from a minimum of 12 months postinjury were examined. Position, length, and numbers of iliosacral screws and any evidence of screw failure (eg, bending or breakage) were recorded. Residual postoperative displacement and late displacement of the posterior pelvis were measured. The main outcome measure was failure, defined as at least 1cm of combined vertical displacement of the posterior pelvis compared with immediate postoperative position. The main analysis was for association between fracture pattern and failure. Patient demographic data, iliosacral screw position, and anterior pelvic fixation method also were studied. RESULTS: The study group comprised 62 patients with unequivocally vertically unstable pelvic fractures in whom the posterior injury was treated with closed reduction and percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation. Of patients, 32 had dislocations or fracture-dislocations of the sacroiliac joint, and 30 had vertical fractures of the sacrum. Fixation failed in four patients, all with vertical sacral fractures and all within the first 3 weeks after surgery. These four patients required revision fixation. In two further cases with vertical sacral fractures, there was evidence that the fracture had only barely been held by the fixation, but these fractures healed, and follow-up radiographs did not meet the displacement criteria for failure. A vertical sacral fracture pattern was associated significantly with failure (Fisher exact test, P = 0.04); the excess risk of failure compared with sacroiliac joint injury was 13% (95% confidence interval 1% to 25%). There was no significant association between failure and anterior fixation method, iliosacral screw arrangement or length, or any demographic or injury variable. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation is a useful technique in the management of vertically unstable pelvic fractures, but a vertical sacral fracture should make the surgeon more wary of fixation failure and loss of reduction.