Complications after lumbopelvic fixation for unstable sacral fractures / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To analyze treatment strategies for complications following lumbopelvic fixation for unstable sacral fractures.Methods Between May 2014 and December 2015,20 patients diagnosed with unstable sacral fracture were treated by lumbopelvic fixation.They were 9 males and 11 females,with an average age of 35.5 years (range,from 14 to 59 years).According to the Denis classification,5 fractures were type Ⅰ,7 type Ⅱ and 8 type Ⅲ.Complications related to lumbopelvic fixation were recorded and followed up.Results All the patients were followed up for an average of 18 months (range,from 12 to 31 months).All the fractures healed after an average of 19 weeks (range,from 15 to 32 weeks).Early complications included neural injury in 2 cases,incision infection in one and pressure ulcer in 2;late complications included prominence of internal implants in 7 cases,loosening of internal implants in 5,lumbopelvic pain or discomfort in 3,limited motion of lumbar vertebrae in 4,limb discrepancy in 3 and rotation deformity of lower limb in one.Conclusions Complications related to wound and internal implants are common following lumbopelvic fixation for sacral fractures.Careful planning and correct choice of internal fixators are the key to decreasing complications.Internal implants should be removed as soon as a sacral fracture unites to decrease the risk of long-term complications.