Advancements in pelvic ring fracture surgery: Assessing INFIX screw placement accuracy with CT navigation

Abstract

The management of unstable pelvic ring fractures, typically resulting from high-energy trauma, presents a significant clinical challenge due to the complexity of injuries. While effective in many cases, the traditional stabilization methods are fraught with various complications that can significantly impact patient recovery and quality of life (QOL). This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and precision of the anterior subcutaneous internal fixator (INFIX) technique when used with intraoperative computed tomography (CT) navigation, a novel approach intended to mitigate the limitations of conventional treatment modalities.Our retrospective case series encompasses 43 patients who sustained traumatic pelvic injuries and were subsequently treated with the INFIX technique from December 2020 to January 2024. The focus of this analysis was to assess the accuracy of INFIX screw placement facilitated by intraoperative CT navigation.A total of 81 INFIX screws were inserted, and our study findings reveal a high level of precision in screw placement, with only one screw deviating, resulting in an inaccuracy rate of merely 1.2 %. This highlights the significant advantage provided by intraoperative CT navigation. The high level of accuracy not only enhances the stability of the pelvic fixation but also substantially reduces the risk of complications commonly associated with screw misplacement, such as abdominal damage, vascular injury, and issues related to incorrect hardware positioning.In conclusion, the integration of the INFIX technique with intraoperative CT navigation in the treatment of unstable pelvic ring fractures represents a significant advancement in orthopedic trauma surgery. This study provides compelling evidence supporting the efficacy and precision of this approach, suggesting its potential as a superior alternative to traditional fixation methods. Further research, ideally through prospective studies involving larger patient cohorts, is needed to validate these findings and explore the long-term implications of this technique on patient recovery and QOL.