Mortality, morbidity and functional outcome after open book and lateral compression lesions of the pelvic ring. A retrospective analysis of 100 type B pelvic ring lesions according to Tile's classification

Abstract

A retrospective study was made of 100 Tile type B and 122 type C pelvic ring lesions. Type B1-open book lesions occurred in 52 patients while 48 had lateral compression lesions of type B2 or B3. Only 13.1% of the patients showed no associated lesions. The frequency of associated neurological lesions in the B1 group with 21% was higher than in the B2/B3 group with 12%. The frequency of urologic lesions in group B1 was 9.6% but in B2/B3 patients it was only 2.1%. A total of 66% of B-lesion patients were stabilized with an external fixator. The frequency of secondary operative procedures was 23% in B1-patients and 6.25% in the B2/B3 group. Overall mortality was 10.4%: 5% in the B-group and 14.8% in the C-group. Outcome for patients with B2/B3 lesions was, with 92% excellent and good end results,much better than in patients with B1 lesions (74%). The inverse was true for radiologic results: 93% of the B1- but only 75% of the B2/B3-patients had an anatomical reduction. Open book lesions, lateral compression lesions and combined vertical stable lesions should be differentiated. We suggest that lateral compression lesions be characterized as B1 and open book lesions as B2 type injuries in the classification system of AO.