Abstract
Purpose: To describe the diagnostic planning and treatment modalities of six patients with this rarest of sacral fractures. Due to the low incidence of these injuries, there is no literature evidence concerning their management.
Materials and Methods: Six patients with a transverse fracture of the sacrum with anterior displacement. All patients were admitted with bowel and bladder dysfunction, perineal anesthesia, sensory and motor deficits at the lower extremities. Prompt diagnosis of the sacral fracture was obtained in five of the six patients.
Results: Operative treatment including extensive lumbosacral laminectomies, spine instrumentation and fusion was performed in all cases. Neurological recovery was almost complete in one patient, partial in 4 patients and absent in one patient.
Conclusions: A more favorable clinical outcome can be achieved when operative treatment is implemented using lumbosacral decompression by laminectomy, dural repair and posterolateral instrumented fusion with bone grafting. Although reduction of the fracture was not ideal in many of these patients, long term clinical and radiographic follow – up as well as neurological improvement were rewarding.
Correspondence should be addressed to: EFORT Central Office, Technoparkstrasse 1, CH – 8005 Zürich, Switzerland. Email: office@efort.org
