The application of multifunctional inflatable pelvis and hip-joint fixator (MIPHF) in damage control in patients with pelvic fracture

Abstract

Objective To discuss the safety and the application of the self-designed multifunctional inflatable pelvis and hip-joint fixator (MIPHF) in damage control in pelvic fracture patients. Methods The MIPHF was subjected to pressure test and quality inspection. From September 2016 to June 2017, 61 pelvic-fracture patients were treated with our self-designed MIPHF as pre-hospital first-aid care according to the concept of damage control orthopedics (DCO) (MIPHF group). The control group consisted of 69 pelvic-fracture patients who had not received pre-hospital first-aid care with the self-designed MIPHF from December 2015 to August 2016. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in gender, age, types of pelvic fracture, and preoperative injure severity score (ISS). The study compared the two groups for the case fatality rate, volume of blood transfused during surgeries, early complication rates, fracture reduction (Matta standards), and long-term efficacy (Cole scores). Results The pressure test showed that the MIPHF had a good fixation effect on the pelvis. And the quality inspection showed that the material used for the MIPHF was in line with national standards and the safety was guaranteed. The MIPHF group had 1 death (1.6%) and the control group had 8 deaths (11.6%), which was a significant difference (χ2=4.979, P=0.026). All survival patients in both groups were followed up. The MIPHF group (61 cases) received 3.0 to 18.0 months follow-up, with an average of 9.0 months. And the control group (69 cases) had 18.0 to 30.0 months follow-up, with an average of 21.9 months. In the MIPHF group, 23 cases were treated conservatively, and 37 cases were treated with surgery. Among them, 3 cases were fixed with external fixator, 20 cases with anterior open reduction and internal fixation, 9 cases with posterior open reduction and internal fixation, and 5 cases with combined anterior and posterior fixation. The timing of surgery was 1 to 20 days after injury, with an average of 4.1 days. The volume of blood transfused in the MIPHF group during surgery was 200 to 1500 ml, with an average of 628.6 ml. In the control group, 27 patients were treated conservatively, and 42 patients were treated with surgery. Among them, 2 cases were fixed with external fixator, 24 cases with anterior open reduction and internal fixation, 10 cases with posterior open reduction and internal fixation, and 6 cases with combined anterior and posterior fixation. The timing of surgery was 1 to 15 days after injury, with an average of 3.1 days. The volume of blood transfused in the control group during surgery was 200 to 4000 ml, with an average of 1 707.1 ml. There was a significant difference between the two groups in intraoperative blood transfusion(Z=-2.330, P=0.020). The MIPHF group had 10 (16.4%) cases of early serious complications and the control group had 22 (31.9%) cases, which had a significant difference (χ2=4.187, P=0.041). According to the criteria proposed by Matta et al., the good rate of results for treating fractures was 82.0% in the MIPHF group and 60.9% in the control group, which got a significant difference (χ2=6.967, P=0.008). The MIPHF group and the control group also differed significantly in their mean long-term Cole scores (27.2±4.0 versus 25.1±5.6, t=2.457, P=0.015). Conclusion MIPHF, which reflects the DCO concept, may be recommended as pre-hospital first-aid care for patients with pelvic fracture because it can lessen bleeding and prevent secondary pelvic injury, thus reduce case fatality rate and the incidence of complications. It can also improve the success rate of treating pelvic fracture, which will positively affect long-term outcomes. Key words: Pelvis; Fractures, bone; External fixators; First aid