Application of channel screw combined with skin-stretching technique in treatment of pelvic fracture with severe Morel-Lavallée lesion

Abstract

To investigate the effectiveness of channel screw combined with skin-stretching technique in treatment of pelvic fracture with severe Morel-Lavallée lesion. Between January 2017 and May 2020, 11 patients with pelvic fractures complicated with severe Morel-Lavallée lesions were treated with channel screw combined with skin-stretching technique. There were 8 males and 3 females, with an average age of 39.2 years (range, 28-58 years). Causes of injury included traffic accident in 9 cases and falling from hight in 2 cases. The time from injury to hospital admission ranged from 1 to 6 days (mean, 3.7 days). According to the Tile classification, the pelvic fractures were rated as type C1 in 7 cases, type C2 in 3 cases, and type C3 in 1 case. The sites of Morel-Lavallée lesions were buttocks in 8 cases, hips in 2 cases, and thigh in 1 case. There was 1 case of rectal injury, 1 case of splenic rupture, 3 cases of craniocerebral injury, 2 cases of chest injury, 4 cases of spinal fracture, and 6 cases of sacral nerve injury. X-ray films were performed to observe reduction and healing of fracture. The quality of fracture reduction was evaluated by Matta standard at 1 week after operation. Wound healing and complications were observed. Majeed scoring was used to evaluate hip function and Gibbons sacral nerve injury grading was used to evaluate neurological function recovery. The patients underwent 4-7 operations, with an average of 5.8 operations. The time of first operation (pelvic fracture fixation, debridement, and skin distractor installation) was 115-275 minutes, with an average of 186.5 minutes. The amount of intraoperative blood loss was 30-80 mL, with an average of 45.5 mL. All patients were followed up 6-12 months, with an average of 8.3 months. The quality of fracture reduction according to the Matta standard was excellent in 7 cases, good in 2 cases, and fair in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 81.8%. All fractures healed at 3-6 months after operation, with an average of 4.5 months. At last follow-up, the hip functions were excellent in 7 cases and good in 4 cases according to Majeed scoring, with an excellent and good rate of 100%. Among the 6 patients complicated with sacral nerve injury, the Gibbons sacral nerve injury grading reached gradeⅠ for 4 cases, gradeⅡ for 1 case, and grade Ⅲ for 1 case. The wounds of 9 cases were sutured directly after skin-stretching treatment for 25-32 days, with an average of 28 days. The dermal edge necrosis occurred in 1 case, and the defect was repaired by free skin grafting. The skin superficial dry necrosis of the wound occurred in 1 case, and healed by dressing change. In the treatment of pelvic fracture complicated with severe Morel-Lavallée lesion, the channel screw and skin-stretching technique showed their own advantages, which can obtain early fracture fixation and good wound healing.