Background
Patients 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 method
Ten 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.
Results
The 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.
Conclusion
Surgical anterior stabilization was required for type C injuries with two plates lead to excellent outcome and associated with minor complications.