Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to determine the outcome of unstable type C pelvic fractures treated with posterior stabilisation and the anterior subcutaneous internal fixator (ASIF).
Methods
Altogether, 36 consecutive patients were treated for unstable type C pelvic ring fractures using posterior stabilisation and ASIF. After a minimum of 18 months, the clinical and radiological outcome was retrospectively investigated.
Results
Overall, three patients (8.3 %) died, and 31 patients (86 %) were available for follow-up after a mean of 4.5 years. Thirty of 31 patients (97 %) showed radiographic bone consolidation of both the posterior and anterior pelvic ring. Only one non-union and two infections due to the anterior device were observed. The total German pelvic outcome score showed an excellent or good rating for 64.5 % of the patients, and a fair or poor for 35.5 %. The SF-12 questionnaire showed a significantly reduced total score for physical and mental health compared to a general reference population.
Conclusions
The ASIF represents an innovative surgical procedure for the treatment of type C pelvic ring fractures. In the medium term, patient satisfaction was high and the complication rate was low, despite the small number of patients. More cases must be investigated before the procedure can be recommended in general, possibly replacing the external fixator for the treatment of pelvic ring fractures in the future.
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Conflict of interest
No outside funding was received in support of this research or in the preparation of this article.
None of the authors has received financial or any other support relevant to the implant used in this study or in this study’s preparation.
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Müller, F.J., Stosiek, W., Zellner, M. et al. The anterior subcutaneous internal fixator (ASIF) for unstable pelvic ring fractures. Clinical and radiological mid-term results. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 37, 2239–2245 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-013-2032-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-013-2032-0