Open reduction and internal fixation for floating symphysis pubis

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of the floating injury of symphysis pubis and clinical outcome of open reduction and internal fixation.Methods A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the 48 patients who had been treated in our department with open reduction and internal fixation for the floating injury of Symphysis pubis from January 2008 to January 2013.There were 31 males and 17 females,with an average age of 36.5 years (range,20 to 61 years).Thirty-five patients were injured in traffic accidents and 8 were injured by falling injuries,and the other 5 were crushed by maehine.Fortyfive cases were complicated with fractures of the posterior pelvis ring; 14 cases were complicated with acetabular fractures; 17 cases were complicated with extremity fractures; 1 1 cases were complicated with thoracic and abdominal injuries and 6 cases were associated with urogenital system injury.The average period from trauma to operation was 7 days (range,3 to 25 days).Operation was performed under general anesthesia.The bilateral pubic ramus fractures were fixed with reconstruction plate in 41 cases,and 7 cases were fixed with cannulated screw through minimally invasive method.Forty-one cases with posterior ring fractures were fixed simulaneously.Results There were 44 patients being followed up with an average period of 16 months (range,12 to 30 months).All the fractures of the pelvis were clinically healed with an average period of 12.6 weeks (range,10 to 16 weeks).According 图o the Majeed score system,the functional results were exc ellent in 30 cases,good in 10 cases,and fair in 4 cases; The average score was 81.5 (range,60 to 100).Two patients who had wound fat liquefaction at 3 days after operation were healed by dressing changing; 8 patients got deep vein thrombosis at 10 days (range,5 to 15 days) after operation were cured by conservative treatment; 3 patients got supra pubic pain at 6 days (range,5 to 7 days) after operation were healed by oral non steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesic drugs and physical therapy in one year.Conclusion Floating injury of symphysis pubis is a kind of severe pelvic fracture which affects the stability of pelvic ring.Open reduction and internal fixation is a good method to stabilize the pelvis ring and to get early rehabilitation.This may contribute to good clinical resuls and good function. Key words: Pelvis; Pubic symphysis; Fractures; Fracture fixation, internal