Purpose: We present a prospective review of 30 unstable pelvic ring fractures treated with iliosacral screw fixation under fluoroscopic guidance with or without anterior osteo-synthesis.
Material and methods: Thirty patients were included between January 1997 and June 2000. They were all treated in an emergency setting by traction with or without a pelvic clamp. Osteosynthesis was deferred for a mean eight days. Percutaneous iliosacral screw fixation was used in all patients associated with symphsis osteosynthesis in eight. The radioscopic technique used three views: inlet, outlet and lateral. There were three Tile B fractures, 26 Tile C fractures and one sacral fracture. The ISS was 30.8/75. Eleven patients experienced haemorrhagic shock, 16 had injuries to the lower limbs, four had surgical urological injuries, and seven had emergency arterography. A neurology examination and CT scan were obtained pre- and postoperatively. Clinical assessment used a visual analogue scale, the Majeed score, and the WHO score. Peroperative radiation was quantified in minutes, Kvots and mA.
Results: Fifty-one screws were implanted, 24 patients with two screws. There were 12 outside the bone and seven potentially iatrogenic lesions among the 18 neurological lesions observed. Mean radiatio was 1.03 min per patient and 0.6 min per screw. Mean follow-up was 24 months (9–50). Clinically the mean scores were: Majeed 8.5/100, WHO 0.7/3, visual analogue scale 3.2/10). Twenty patients suffered pain related to associated injuries. There were three dismantelings including one requiring revision surgery. Deformed callus was: anterior vertical translation 2.9 mm, posterior vertical translation 4.5 mm and horizontal anterior translation 3 mm. There was one complication for the symphysis fixation.
Discussion: These results are comparable to those reported in the literature. Complications are less frequent with this method. External reduction is good when achieved early. This series represents a learning curve where the 12 screws in extraosseous positions occurred during our first 16 cases. Implanting two screws per articulation increases the risk of extraosseous screws. Screw insertion is safer with the lateral view.
Conclusion: This series demonstrates that iliosacral percutaneous screw fixation is a valid method for the treatment of severe fractures of the pelvic ring. The rigorous method required is emphasised.
