DELAYED POSTERIOR INTERNAL FIXATION OF UNSTABLE PELVIC FRACTURES

15 patients with unstable pelvic fractures were treated with immediate anterior external fixation followed by delayed posteior fixation, including 5 sacroiliac lag screws, 6 transiliac rods, and 4 iliac plates. Initial anterior external fixation aided in resuscitation of hemodynamically unstable patients and allowed early mobilization. Delayed posterior internal fixation avoided infection hemorrhage but failed to achieve anatomic reduction of disrupted sacroiliac joints and sacral fractures. Results of followup examinations are given. Fixation of these fractures with sacroilliac screws and transiliac rods caused overcompression and the resulting foraminal encroachment may be a factor in the lack of neurologic recovery. In this study delayed posterior internal fixation was not associated with perioperative morbidity and achieved better reductions than those obtained with external fixation alone. Delaying the fixation, however, increased the difficulty of obtaining anatomic reduction of certain posterior arch disruptions.

  • Availability:
  • Corporate Authors:

    Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

    428 East Preston Street
    Baltimore, MD  United States  21202
  • Authors:
    • Browner, B D
    • Cole, J D
    • Graham, J M
    • Bondurant, F J
    • Nunchuck-Burns, S K
    • Colter, H B
  • Publication Date: 1987-9

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00490742
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
  • Report/Paper Numbers: HS-040 376
  • Files: HSL, USDOT
  • Created Date: Jan 31 1990 12:00AM