Treatment of sacroiliac joint disruption with anterior stabilization

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with pelvic ring injuries present with fractures ranging from single pelvic fractures to those accompanied by many life-threatening injuries. Sacroiliac joint disruption from high-energy trauma is always complicated with chronic pain and long-term morbidity. Open reduction and anterior stabilization with anterior plating have biomechanical advantages.Patients and methodTen patients were studied at Al-Azhar University Hospital (Damietta) during the period from March 2009 to February 2011. There were eight (80%) men and two (20%) women. Their ages ranged from 20 to 50 years. All patients presented with acute pelvic pain, with a history of a road traffic accident in nine (90%) patients and falling from height in one (10%) patient. Plain radiography was the first step in the diagnosis and development of a treatment plan for patients with pelvic trauma. Computed tomography has been proven to be an effective diagnostic tool for the evaluation of pelvic fractures.ResultsThe results were excellent in three (30%) patients, good in six (60%) patients, and poor in one (10%) patient. Complications included posterior pelvic pain in one (10%) patient, superficial infection in one (10%) patient, foot drop in one (10%) patient, and pelvic tilt in one (10%) patient.ConclusionSurgical anterior stabilization was required for type C injuries with two plates lead to excellent outcome and associated with minor complications.