Robot-assisted screws fixation for the treatment of fragility fractures of the pelvis / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the clinical outcomes of fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP) treated with robot-assisted screws, minimally reduction according to the pelvic osseous pathways.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the data of 50 elderly patients with FFP treated by the Department of Trauma and Pelvic Trauma of Tianjin Hospital from March 2016 to October 2021, and the 50 patients with FFP were divided into robotic-assisted screw fixation group (robot group) and open reduction steel plate fixation group (open group) according to the fixation method. There were 30 patients in the Robot group, 6 males and 24 females, average age 75.03±7.32 years (range, 60-90 years). According to Rommens and Hofmann FFP classification, there were 4 cases of IIc type, 8 cases of IIIa type, 1 case of IIIb type, 12 cases of IIIc type, 3 cases of IVa type, 2 cases of IVb type. There were 20 patients in the open group, 5 males and 15 females, average age 71.90±5.51 years (range, 62-85 years). According to Rommens and Hofmann FFP classification, there were 2 cases of IIc type, 6 cases of IIIa type, 9 cases of IIIc type, 3 cases of IVa type. The two groups were compared with age, pelvic fracture classification, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture reduction quality, visual analogue scale (VAS), Majeed score, and wound healing or not.Results:All patients were followed up for 12.72 months (range, 6-24 months). In the robot group, the operation time was 50.17±19.32 min (range, 30-120 min), and intraoperative blood loss was 55.50±28.60 ml (range, 10-150 ml); in the open group, the operation time was 92.25±27.55 min (range, 60-180 min), and intraoperative blood loss was 217.50±67.20 ml (range, 150-400 ml), there were statistical differences ( t=6.36, P<0.001; t=11.72, P<0.001). According to Mears and Velyvis imaging evaluation criteria, in the robot group, anatomical reduction were achieved in 10 cases, satifactory reduction were achieved in 20 cases; in the open group, anatomical reduction were achieved in 14 cases, satifactory reduction were achieved in 6 cases, there were statistical differences (χ 2=6.46, P=0.011). In the robot group, VAS for pelvic pain was 7.33±1.32 points (range, 4-9 points) before operation, 4.13±1.07 points (range, 3-8 points) one week after surgery, and 2.30±0.84 points (range, 1-5 points) at the last follow-up; in the open group, VAS for pelvic pain was 7.45±1.23 points (range, 5-9 points) before operation, 5.25±1.25 points (range, 3-8 points) one week after surgery, and 2.80±1.24 points (range, 1-6 points) at the last follow-up, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant ( F=162.18, P<0.001; F=70.18, P<0.001), the difference between the two groups was statistically significant 1 week after surgery ( t=3.37, P=0.001), and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups before surgery and the last follow-up ( P>0.05). The Majeed score was 82.10±4.80 (range, 65-95) in the robot group, 77.60±5.40 (range, 70-93) in the open group at the last follow-up, there were statistical differences ( t=3.09, P=0.003). There was no wound complication in the robot group, there were 4 cases with wound infection or rupture in the open group. One LC-II screw loosen in the robot group, which needed reoperation with cement, there was also 1 screw of plate loosening in the open group with no reoperation. Conclusion:Robot-assisted screws fixation with minimally reduction based pelvic osseous pathways shows satisfactory clinical outcomes, satisfactory reduction, effective pain relief, and fewer postoperative complications in treatment of elderly FFP.