Plate fixation is a recognized treatment for pelvic ring injuries involving disruption of the pubic symphysis. Although fixation failure is well known, it is unclear whether early or late fixation failure is clinically important.
We therefore determined (1) the incidence and mode of failure of anterior plate fixation for traumatic pubic symphysis disruption; (2) whether failure of fixation was associated with the types of pelvic ring injury or pelvic fixation used; (3) the complications, including the requirement for reoperation or hardware removal; and (4) whether radiographic followup of greater than 1 year alters subsequent management.
We retrospectively reviewed 148 of 178 (83%) patients with traumatic symphysis pubis diastasis treated by plate fixation between 1994 and 2008. Routine radiographic review, pelvic fracture classification, method of fixation, incidence of fixation failure, timing and mode of failure, and the complications were recorded after a minimum followup of 12 months (mean, 45 months; range, 1–14 years).
Our observations suggest the high rate of late fixation failure after plate fixation of the symphysis pubis is not clinically important.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.
Plate fixation is a recognized treatment for pelvic ring injuries involving disruption of the pubic symphysis. Although fixation failure is well known, it is unclear whether early or late fixation failure is clinically important.
We therefore determined (1) the incidence and mode of failure of anterior plate fixation for traumatic pubic symphysis disruption; (2) whether failure of fixation was associated with the types of pelvic ring injury or pelvic fixation used; (3) the complications, including the requirement for reoperation or hardware removal; and (4) whether radiographic followup of greater than 1 year alters subsequent management.
We retrospectively reviewed 148 of 178 (83%) patients with traumatic symphysis pubis diastasis treated by plate fixation between 1994 and 2008. Routine radiographic review, pelvic fracture classification, method of fixation, incidence of fixation failure, timing and mode of failure, and the complications were recorded after a minimum followup of 12 months (mean, 45 months; range, 1–14 years).
Our observations suggest the high rate of late fixation failure after plate fixation of the symphysis pubis is not clinically important.
Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.