Purpose: This study analysed nerve trunk injury associated with posterior fractures of the pelvic girdle, distinguishing initial post-trauma damage from morbidity correlated to treatment by reduction and iliosacral screw fixation.

Material: Fifty bone or ligament injuries to the posterior pelvic girdle were identified in 44 patients. Management included initial external reduction and differed fixation using iliosacral screws inserted under fluorescence guidance.

Methods: The metameric examination of the lumbar and sacral trunks (L2, L3, L4, L5, S1, S2, S3) was performed at admission when the patient was conscious. The postoperative work-up included a complete neurological exam and computed tomography assessment of the screw trajectory. The quality of the reduction was quantified on the anterioposterior view of the pelvis. At last follow-up, evolution of symptoms ± EMG, Trendenburg gait, Mageed score, QMS score and pain (assessed on a visual analogue scale) were recorded.

Results: Preoperatively, 14 deficits of the nerve trunks were identified. The neurological status was unknown for eleven bone and ligament injuries because the patients were sedated at admission. Postoperatively, 28 deficits were identified. Fourteen (50%) involved the lumbosacral trunks L4 and L5, five the S1 root, six L4, L5, S1 territories, and three L5 to S4.

Computed tomography demonstrated 15 extraosseous screws lying anteriorly to the sacral ala or in the sacral canal. These extraosseous screws were associated with neurological deficits in nine cases without a preoperative diagnosis. In six cases, the extra-ossesous screw was not associated with any postoperative deficit. In five cases, neurological lesions diagnosed after the operation were not associated with an extra-osseous screw. Twenty-six neurological lesions were reviewed at a mean follow-up of 25 months: improvement was observed in 19, no change in five and aggravation in two.

Conclusion: Initial diagnosis of neurological injury with precision of the localisation can be established for only half of pelvic girdle fractures. The main mechanism involves stretching of the lumbosacral trunk by displacement of the sacral ala. Injury to the superior gluteal nerve is often associated. Closed reduction or compression of a nerve trapped in the fracture gap during screw fixation could be a second mechanism. Finally, rigorous screw insertion is necessary to avoid extra-osseous trajectories lying anteriorly to the sacral ala.

Purpose: Injury of both cruciate ligaments raises difficult therapeutic problems in trauma victims. The severity of such lesions is related to the context of multiple trauma and to the general regional context associating vascular and neurological injury. Therapeutic management should be multidisciplinary to determine the appropriate strategy. Orthopaedic treatment should take into account the different diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. The purpose of this work was to detail ligament injuries observed and to assess results of treatments proposed.

Material and methods: This retrospective series included 20 patients (14 men and 6 women), mean age 33 years (18–54). Five had multiple trauma with head injuries and multiple fractures. The initial diagnosis was traumatic knee dislocation in 14 patients. Seven patients underwent emergency vascular explorations with subsequent femoropopliteal bypass (n=3). Neurological lesions included three cases of complete section of the lateral popliteal sciatic. Orthopaedic treatment was used in three cases. We used external fixation for two months on the average in three patients. Six others underwent surgery (less than eight days after injury) after obtaining an MRI. The surgical strategy was based on several arguments: age, general status, level of the ligament injury. Three patients underwent secondary surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament. Outcome was assessed at a mean follow-up of 36 months (20–60). The clinical assessment of the objective result was based on frontal and sagittal laxity. The subjective result and the level of sports activities were also recorded. Radiographically, we studied the standard x-rays in single leg stance and also the stress images using telos with anterior then posterior drawer.

Results: Excepting one case of amputation necessary due to the vascular and nervous injuries, orthopaedic treatment allowed an acceptable functional result in sedentary patients: good frontal stability and minimal anteroposterior residual laxity. Fourteen athletes underwent emergency surgery to repair the posterior cruciate ligament: posterior approaches in eight knees with injury of the floor with no posterior drawer at last follow-up; anterior approaches in six knees for suture of the posterior cruciate ligament and insertion of a synthetic ligament tutor with anterior cruciate ligament repair during the same operative time (two floor reinsertions, one patellar tendon plasty, and three Cho plasties). The stability of the posterior pivot was excellent but the tibial reinsertions of the anterior cruciate ligament failed. Seven knees required mobilisation under general anaesthesia 2.5 months later. Three knees underwent secondary anterior cruciate repair using the Kenneth Jones technique with negative Lachmann at last follow-up.

Discussion: Excepting vascular and neurological emergencies dictating the initial therapeutic attitude, our orthopaedic management was based on a detailed identification of the lesion using emergency MRI: anterior or posterior approach, anterior cruciate repair technique dependng on association with peripheral ligament injury. Good results in terms of posterior laxity were achieved in this series, confirming the importance of emergency repair of the posterior cruciate. If the medial ligaments are intact, the anterior cruciate can be repaired in the emergency setting with a Cho plasy. In other situations, we prefer waiting before surgical repair of the anterior pivot.

Purpose: The purpose of this work was to compare the precision and reliability of screw fixation using two different guiding systems. The first system was based on computed tomography (CT) imaging and the second on digitalized fluoroscopic imaging.

Material and methods: Between 1998 and 2000, 88 patients underwent spinal fixation for diverse disease states (idiopathic scoliosis in 43, and fracture, spondylolisthesis or instability in 45). Pedicular screws (n = 223) were inserted in levels T4 to S1. The passive CT navigation system was used for 73 patients (177 pedicular screws) and the fluoroscopic navigation system for 15 (46 pedicular screws). An independent observer identified the position of the pedicular screws on the postoperative CT.

Results: Among the 73 patients who underwent a CT-guided procedure (177 pedicular screws) the rate of incorrect screw position was 6.2% (11/117) with = 2 mm penetration of the cortical. Among the 15 patients who underwent a fluoroscopy-guided procedure (46 pedicular screws), the rate of incorrect screw position was 17% (8/46) again with = 2 mm penetration of the cortical. For scoliosis patients, the rate of erroneous screw insertion was 6% for CT navigation and 28% for fluoroscopic navigation. For fractures and degenerative instability, the rates were 6% and 11% respectively.

Discussion: The passive nature of the two navigation systems used do not induce any peroperative constraint on the surgeon. With the CT system, landmarks have to be collected peroperatively on the posterior arch of the operated vertebra, a step that is not needed for the fluoroscopic system. The two techniques appear to be reliable for insertion of pedicular screws. We did not have any neurological disorders in this series. It can be recalled that the conventional method produces a 15 to 40% rate of erroneous insertion. The CT system provides better results for all types of diseases; the improvement is about 6%.

Conclusion: With CT-navigation, a large portion of the per-operative radiographs are no longer necessary. Operative time is slightly longer than for the classical procedure due to the collection of the 3D information, particularly important for scoliosis. With the fluoroscopy system, no special preoperative imaging is required. Two or three peroperative radiographs are sufficient, limiting irradiation during insertion of the pedicular screws. The fluoroscopic system does not however provide 3D images.

Purpose: This prospective comparative study examined the two-year results of two femoral fixation method for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) repair using the four-part hamstring technique. A consecutive series of 60 patients with the same tear criteria involving the ACL alone were randomly assigned to the two treatment arms. Femoral fixation was achieved by mixed corticocancellous transfixation or by interference screw fixation.

Material and methods: The series included two cohorts of 30 patients each. We excluded patients with a history of ligament or bone surgery and those with associated lesions of the peripheral ligaments. Complementary lateral reinforcement was not performed in either group. The interference screw fixation group had 20 men and 10 women, mean age 29 years (14–48), 18 right side. The blind femoral tunnel was drilled arthroscopically. The transfixation group included 19 men and 11 women, mean age 26 years (16–40), 17 right side. The blind femoral tunnel was drilled via a transtibial approach using the Rosenberg aiming procedure. In both cohorts, tibial fixation of the transplant was achieved with a resorbable polylactic screw measuring at least the diameter of the tibial tunnel. Statistical analysis of results (Statview 4.5) was based on the clinical IKDC score, thigh volume, and level of sports activity. Telos at 15 and 20 kg was used to measure laxity.

Results: Mean delay to review was 24 months (22–26). The two cohorts were comparable preoperatively (laxity, sports level, meniscal or cartilage lesions). There was no statistical difference for joint amplitudes, joint instability, or level of sports activity at last follow-up. The telos differential laxity at 15 kg was statistically lower in the interference screw fixation group (mean 1.1 mm) than in the transfixation group (mean 1.4 mm) (p < 0.01). There were no complications in either group, particularly no cyclope syndrome. Radiographically, there was no statistical difference for the position of the tibial tunnel. The femoral tunnel was however different: the Aglietti index was 0.57 for transfixation and 0.62 for interference screw fixation (p < 0.01).

Discussion: This prospective study demonstrated the good mid-term anatomic results after 4-part hamstring plasty of the ACL for both types of femoral fixation (transfixation or interference screw fixation). The position of the femoral tunnel appeared to be better with interference screw fixation, with a statistical correlation with better anatomic results (telos). This suggests that the transtibial femoral aiming procedure does not necessarily produce a totally satisfactory isometric alignment.