Locking plate for periprosthetic femoral fractures according to Vancouver C: Outcome and radiological subanalysis of 40 patients.

PURPOSE: Periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFF) according to type Vancouver C are less common and outcome is limited reported. Therefore, we conducted this retrospective single center study. METHODS: We performed analysis of patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with locking plates for PPF occurring distally of a primary standard hip stem. Data on demographics, revisions, fracture patterns, and mortality were evaluated. At least two years after operation, we examined outcome using the Parker and Palmer mobility score. Primary aim of this study was revision, outcome and mortality. Secondary aim was evaluation of fracture subtypes within type Vancouver C fractures. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2020, 383 patients with periprosthetic femoral fracture after hip replacement were surgically treated according to our database. Among them, 40 patients (10.4%) with type Vancouver C fractures were enrolled for this study. The mean patient age was 81.5 years (59-94) at the time of fracture. Thirty-three patients were women, and 22 fractures were on the left side. Without exception, locking plates were used. The 1-year mortality rate for the sample was 27.5% (n = 11). Three revisions (7.5%) were performed for plate breakage. Rate of infection and non-union was zero. Three different fracture patterns were assessed: (1) transverse or oblique fractures below the tip of the stem (n = 9); (2) spiral-shaped fractures within the diaphysis (n = 19); and (3) burst fractures at the supracondylar region (n = 12). Demographic or outcome effects between fracture patterns were not found. On average of 4.2 years (2.0-10.4) after treatment, the mean reported Parker score was 5.5 (1-9). CONCLUSION: ORIF with a single lateral locking plate is safe for type Vancouver C fractures with a well-fixed hip stem. Therefore, we do not recommend routinely revision arthroplasty or orthogonal double plating. Three subtypes of fractures within Vancouver C demonstrated no significant differences in baseline data and outcome.

[Occupation-related cancer in urology-Current knowledge including environmental medical aspects]. / Berufsbedingte Krebserkrankungen in der Urologie ­ aktuelle Erkenntnisse unter Einbeziehung umweltmedizinischer Aspekte.

Occupation-related cancers are of considerable importance, which is not yet adequately recognized in the field of urology. The three numerically most significant entities are tumors of the urinary tract caused by carcinogenic aromatic amines or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, renal cell cancer after high exposure to the solvent trichloroethylene, and mesotheliomas of the tunica vaginalis of the testis after exposure to asbestos; however, these can only be recognized as occupation-related if an occupational history regarding the hazard relevant to the organ bearing the tumor is documented from the beginning of employment, e.g. by a questionnaire. This is because the relevant exposures generally date back several decades. With the exception of high exposure to trichloroethylene, the substances mentioned can also environmentally trigger the same tumors. In the context of environmental risk factors, it is of considerable importance that smoking is now considered to be a trigger for some 50% of all bladder cancers in men and women; however, smoking cessation results in a reduction in smoking-related cancer risk of over 30% after only 3-4 years. Work and commuting accidents, which are considered occupational risks, can lead to urological sequelae. For example, increased tumors of the bladder can occur after spinal cord injury lasting longer than 10 years.

[Urinary Bladder Cancer as a Long-term Sequela of Spinal Cord Injury - Relevance to Practice]. / Harnblasentumoren als Langzeitfolge einer Querschnittlähmung ­ Bedeutung für die Praxis.

Urinary bladder cancer is the second most common tumour disease after lung cancer leading to death in people with a spinal cord injury. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the differences relevant to urologists between urinary bladder tumours in this population compared with urinary bladder tumours in the general population.People with a spinal cord injury are 1 to 2 decades younger on average at the time of tumour diagnosis than patients without a spinal cord injury. Histopathologic findings at the initial diagnosis of urinary bladder cancer in people with a spinal cord injury are much less favourable than for urinary bladder cancers in the general population. Muscle-invasive tumours and tumours with poor differentiation are much more common, and the proportion of squamous cell carcinomas is significantly higher. The incidence rises after more than 10 years of paralysis. Urinary bladder cancer mortality is significantly elevated and increases with the duration of paralysis. In diagnostic procedures and, in particular, in radical cystectomy, clinically important features have to be considered. For example, urodynamic examinations or cystoscopy may trigger autonomic dysreflexia with hypertensive crises and the risk of life-threatening bradycardia.In the case of radical cystectomy, frequent adhesions and callosities of the urinary bladder, among other things, must be taken into account intraoperatively. Severe paralysis, prolonged intestinal atony and other conditions are frequently observed after the surgical procedure due to neurogenic bowel dysfunction. Correct positioning of the patient immediately after surgery to avoid decubitus and to support breathing, as well as bowel management specific to spinal cord injury, must be strictly observed.Other special features of paraplegic patients with urinary bladder cancer that should also be considered in clinical practice, as well as considerations for screening for urinary bladder tumors, are presented in the article.

Ultra-low-dose lung multidetector computed tomography in children - Approaching 0.2 millisievert.

PURPOSE: To compare objective and subjective parameters in image quality and radiation dose of two MDCTs (helical 64 detector CT vs. axial 256 detector CT) in paediatric lung CT. METHODS: Radiation dose and image quality were compared between non-enhanced lung CT from a helical 64-slice multidetector CT (MDCT 1) and a 256-slice scanner (MDCT 2) with axial wide-cone acquisition and using deep learning image reconstruction. In 23 size-matched paediatric studies (age 2-18 years) from each scanner, the radiation exposure, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), image sharpness and delineation of small airways were assessed. Subjective image quality was rated by 6 paediatric radiologists. RESULTS: While MDCT 2 provided higher SNR and CNR, subjective image quality was not significantly different between studies from both scanners. Radiation exposure was lower in studies from MDCT 2 (CTDIvol 0.26 ± 0.14 mGy, effective dose 0.23 ± 0.11 mSv) than from MDCT 1 (CTDIvol 0.96 ± 0.52 mGy, effective dose 1.13 ± 0.58 mSv), p < 0.001. Despite lower radiation dose for the scout images, the relative scout-scan-ratio increased from 2.64 ± 1.42 % in MDCT 1 to 6.60 ± 5.03 % in MDCT 2 (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: By using latest scanner technology effective radiation dose can be reduced to 0.1-0.3 mSv for lung CT in children without compromising image quality. Scout image dose increasingly accounts for substantial portions of the total scan dose and needs to be optimized. In children CT should be performed on state-of-the-art MDCT scanners with size-adapted exposure protocols and iterative reconstruction.

Urinary bladder cancer as a late sequela of traumatic spinal cord injury.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is also a combat-related injury that is increasing in modern warfare. The aim of this work is to inform medical experts regarding the different course of bladder cancer in able-bodied patients compared with SCI patients based on the latest medical scientific knowledge, and to present decision-making aids for the assessment of bladder cancer as a late sequela of traumatic SCI. METHODS: A study conducted between January 1998 and December 2019 in the BG Trauma Hospital Hamburg formed the basis for the decision-making aids. Urinary bladder cancer was diagnosed in 40 out of 7396 treated outpatient and inpatient SCI patients. General patient information, latency period, age at initial diagnosis, type of bladder management and survival of SCI patients with bladder cancer were collected and analysed. T category, grading and tumour entity in these patients were compared with those in the general population. Relevant bladder cancer risk factors in SCI patients were analysed. Furthermore, relevant published literature was taken into consideration. RESULTS: Initial diagnosis of urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients occurs at a mean age of 56.4 years (SD ± 10.7 years), i.e., approximately 20 years earlier as compared with the general population. These bladder cancers are significantly more frequently muscle invasive (i.e., T category ≥ T2) and present a higher grade at initial diagnosis. Furthermore, SCI patients show a significantly higher proportion of the more aggressive squamous cell carcinoma than that of the general population in areas not endemic for the tropical disease schistosomiasis. Consequently, the survival time is extremely unfavourable. A very important finding, for practical reasons is that, in the Hamburg study as well as in the literature, urinary bladder cancer is more frequently observed after 10 years or more of SCI. Based on these findings, a matrix was compiled where the various influencing factors, either for or against the recognition of an association between SCI and urinary bladder cancer, were weighted according to their relevance. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients differs considerably from that in able-bodied patients. The presented algorithm is an important aid in everyday clinical practice for assessing the correlation between SCI and bladder cancer.

Implementation of a point spread function method to analyze flash radiography images: Image enhancement, movie generation, and projection detangling.

This work investigates how one can postprocess a series of flash-generated X-ray radiographs with known point spread functions and collection geometries to produce radiographs with enhanced image quality and/or to approximate a multiframe X-ray movie by spatially correlating temporally sequenced images. To produce images with enhanced quality, one collects multiple individual projections, simultaneously, and then uses the known point spread function and acquisition geometry to correlate and integrate the numerous projections as if they were acquired from approximately the same perspective. If using sources of similar spectral characteristics, the outcome correlates with that which would be produced from a multiflash integration, where one benefits from an increase in flux of X-ray photons. If using sources of different spectral characteristics, a composite radiograph can be produced where the unique source spectrum can be matched to known material absorption cross-sections to accentuate radiographic features within the target material. To produce multiframe movies, similar mathematics are applied to images collected throughout a timespan over which the object changes. The aforementioned processes' mathematics and examples are demonstrated for the case in which the individual projections are completely separable on the detector with no overlap. Finally, a potential method is discussed for separation of images in the case where multiple radiograph projections are overlapped and entangled on the detector.

Traumatic spinal cord injury confers bladder cancer risk to patients managed without permanent urinary catheterization: lessons from a comparison of clinical data with the national database.

PURPOSE: Life expectancy for people with traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is increasing due to advances in treatment methods and in neuro-urology. Thus, developing urinary bladder cancer (UBC) is gaining importance. METHODS: Single-centre retrospective evaluation of consecutive in- and out-patient data with spinal cord injury between January 1st, 1998 and December 31st, 2018 was carried out and data were compared with UBC data of the German population from the German Centre for Cancer Registry Data at Robert Koch Institute. RESULTS: A total of 37 (4 female, 33 male) out of 7004 patients with SCI were diagnosed with histologically proven UBC (median follow-up 85 months). Median age at UBC diagnosis was 54.0 years (general population: 74 years). The SCI patients had significantly (p < 0.0001, each) more frequent muscle-invasive tumors (81% ≥ T2) and unfavorable grading (76% G3), compared to the general population. Median survival was 13 months for transitional cell carcinoma (n = 31) and 4 months for squamous cell carcinoma (n = 5) (p = 0.0039), resp. The median survival of the 24 cystectomized patients was 15.0 months. Long-term suprapubic or indwelling catheterization was found in only eight patients for a total of only 5.09% (median 15.5 months) of the latency of all patients. No significant differences for T category and grading were observed between the bladder emptying methods intermittent catheterisation and catheter-free voiding. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that in patients with SCI bladder management even without permanent catheterization represents a considerable risk for the development of UBC.

Total Hip Arthroplasty for Hip Fractures: Time to Surgery With Respect to Surgical Revision, Failure, and Mortality.

INTRODUCTION: There are increasing demands to perform surgery of hip fractures without delay. However, few studies have assessed the time to surgery in relation to outcome measurements. METHODS: A total of 643 consecutive patients with a minimum age of 60 years underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA) for an intracapsular hip fracture. For this retrospective case series, demographic data and the outcome measurements-(1) any surgical revision, (2) implant failure, and (3) mortality-were documented from a prospective clinical database. The time from admission to surgery was also documented prospectively and then data were divided into 4 groups according to the time of surgery: (1) within 12 hours, (2) >12 to 24 hours, (3) >24 to 48 hours, and (4) later than >48 hours. The study end point was 2 years after surgery. Final evaluation was conducted for any missing data through a telephone interview. RESULTS: The patients comprised 456 women (70.9%) and 187 men (29.1%) with a mean age of 80.2 years (range 60-104 years; standard deviation ±7.4). Descriptive data were without effect in all 4 groups. Time to surgery did not significantly influence revision for any reason (P = .323), implant failure (P = .521), and mortality (P = .643). Cox regression analysis identified male sex (P < .001; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27-2.44), American Society of Anesthesiologists score ≥3 (P < .001; 95% CI, 2.12-21.59), C-reactive protein level >21 mg/L (P < .018; 95% CI, 1.09-2.60), hemoglobin level <12.0 g/dL (P = .033; 95% CI, 1.04-2.68), and dementia (P < .000; 95% CI, 1.50-2.86) as independent significant risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSION: Time to surgery had no effect on revision for any reason, implant failure, and mortality in patients undergoing THA for an intracapsular hip fracture.

[Spinal cord injury with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction as a potential risk factor for bladder carcinoma]. / Querschnittlähmung mit neurogener Harnblasenfunktionsstörung als möglicher Risikofaktor für Harnblasen-Karzinome.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Life expectancy for people with spinal cord injury/disease (SCI/D) is increasing, due to modern advances in treatment methods and in neuro-urology. However, with the increased life expectancy the risk of developing urinary bladder cancer is gaining importance. How is this patient group different from the general population? METHODS: Single-centre retrospective evaluation of consecutive patient data with spinal cord injury and proven urinary bladder cancer. RESULTS: Between January 1st 1998 and March 31st 2017, 32 (3 female, 29 male) out of a total of 6432 patients with SCI/D were diagnosed with bladder cancer.The average age at bladder cancer diagnosis was 54.5 years, which is well below the average for bladder cancer cases in the general population (male: 74, female: 75).Twenty-seven patients suffered from urodynamically confirmed neurogenic detrusor overactivity, while five patients (all male) had detrusor acontractility.The median latency period between the onset of SCI/D and tumor diagnosis was 29.5 years. Temporary indwelling catheterisation was found in four patients for only 1.61 % of the overall latency period of all patients.The majority of the patients (n = 27) had transitional cell carcinoma, while five had squamous cell carcinoma. Of the 32 patients, 25 (78 %) had muscle invasive bladder cancer at ≥ T2 at the time of diagnosis. Regarding tumour grading, 23 out of 32 patients showed a histologically poorly differentiated G3 carcinoma; two patients each had G2 and G1 tumours repectively (no information on tumour grading was available in five patients).The median survival for all patients was 11.5 months. The prognosis of patients with squamous cell carcinoma was even worse; 4 out of 5 died within 7 months (median 4 months). CONCLUSIONS: The significantly younger age at onset and the frequency of invasive, poorly differentiated tumour at diagnosis indicate that SCI/D influences both bladder cancer risk and prognosis significantly. The latency period between paralysis and tumour disease seems to be a decisive risk parameter.The type of neurogenic bladder dysfunction and the form of bladder drainage do not appear to influence the risk. Long-term indwelling catheter drainage played only a minor role in the investigated patients.Early detection of bladder cancer in patients with spinal cord injury remains a challenge.

Comparative analysis of non-simultaneous bilateral fractures of the proximal femur.

PURPOSE: We performed a monocenter cohort study to determine surgical revision and mortality after sustaining an initial and a non-simultaneous contralateral proximal femoral fracture. METHODS: We identified all patients surgically treated for a contralateral femoral fracture between 2006 and 2015. Patient demographic characteristics and follow-up were identified by our electronic database; failed information regarding revision and mortality were obtained by telephone, as well as the evaluation of the mobility for all alive patients. The endpoint of the study was set for every patient at least 2 years postoperatively. RESULTS: Within a total of 2296 patients, we identified 250 patients (10.8%) treated for a contralateral fracture. The mean interval between the two occurrences was 5.2 years and the mean age at the time of contralateral fracture was 84.4 years. Almost every third fracture occurred later than 5 years after the initial fracture, and even every tenth fracture later than 10 years. More than 50% of the patients also had dementia at this time. The total surgical revision rate was 17.2% after initial, and 20.4% after contralateral fracture, but this difference was statistically not significant (p = 0.31). However, revisions for infection or hematoma were more than twice after contralateral fracture (p = 0.006). The 1-year mortality rate was 36%, and dementia (log rank p < 0.001) and male gender (log rank p < 0.001) were significant negative predictors for the survival rate. After a mean of 42 months, the follow-up of the 67 alive patients recorded a mean Parker Score of 5.2 items. CONCLUSION: Contralateral femoral fracture was accompanied by a higher revision and mortality rate-but patients were also 5 years older. Dementia and male gender were significant negative variables for the survival time. In the future, the highest priority will be the prophylaxis of falling to avoid or at least to decline the number of these fractures in geriatric patients.

[Analysis of 2000 surgically treated proximal femoral fractures : Multiple variables influence mortality]. / Analyse von 2000 operativ versorgten proximalen Femurfrakturen : Multiple Variablen beeinflussen die Mortalität.

BACKGROUND: Due to demographic change, more proximal femoral fractures can be expected in the future. However, accurate growth rates as well as follow-up research extending more than 1 year postsurgery are still lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, we defined inclusion and exclusion criteria for the retrospective cohort study. Based on these, we collected all surgical interventions conducted between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2015. For a total of 2000 consecutive procedures, we retrieved and analysed a total of 12 variables influencing mortality. Data were retrieved from the prospectively established database; all patients still alive were contacted by phone, and missing data were collected. The endpoint of the study was consistently set for all patients at 2 years postsurgery. RESULTS: The follow-up rate was 100%. Growth rate increased by 74.1% over a period of 10 years. Mean age of the total population was 79.4 years, and women were predominantly affected (71.7%). Surgical treatment was based on osteosynthesis procedures (57%) using DHS, PFN, or screws, as well as on arthroplasty (43%) performing total hip arthroplasty or implanting large-head prostheses. The revision rate was 14.5%, and mortality 2 years postsurgery was 32.4%. Through a multivariate analysis (Cox regression), the following seven influence factors showed statistically significant impact on mortality: age >82 years, male gender, CRP >10 mg/dl, haemoglobin <12 g/dl, ASA 3 or 4, dementia, and postoperative infection-but not timing of surgery. CONCLUSION: The growth rate of proximal femoral fractures progressed more rapidly than expected. Through a multivariate analysis, a total of six intrinsic variables were verified, which influenced the mortality. The prevention of infection-as the only additional extrinsic factor in this study-represents a more important role than early surgical treatment.

Total hip arthroplasty after failed osteosynthesis of proximal femoral fractures: Revision and mortality of 80 patients.

PURPOSE: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) after failed osteosynthesis for proximal femoral fractures is associated with higher revision rates, particularly for dislocation. The purpose of this study was to report our results with THA after failed osteosynthesis within a treatment period of 10 years. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study including 80 consecutive patients was conducted. After a minimum follow-up of 1 year, we evaluated revision for any cause including dislocation, outcome, and mortality. RESULTS: We performed 48 THAs with standard components only and 32 THAs with revision implants. Routinely, a 36-mm femoral head was used, and trochanteric fixation was performed in one-third of the cases. Total revision rate for any cause was 21%, which included six infections, six periprosthetic fractures, and five hematomas. One hip dislocation was also treated. Treatment with uncemented revision stem revealed significantly higher number of revisions-compared to standard cemented or uncemented stem. The mortality rate after 1 year was 9%, and the mean Parker score at follow-up was 6.6 (range: 0-9). CONCLUSIONS: THA was associated with an increased surgical revision rate, but hip dislocation was documented only once. In most cases, a standard implant with a large 36-mm femoral head size was sufficient. Uncemented revision stem revealed significantly higher number of revisions-compared to standard cemented or uncemented stem. One-year mortality was lower than expected.

Clinical characteristics of bladder cancer in patients with spinal cord injury: the experience from a single centre.

INTRODUCTION: Life expectancy for people with spinal cord injury has shown a marked increase due to modern advances in treatment methods and in neuro-urology. However, since life expectancy of people with paralysis increases, the risk of developing of urinary bladder cancer is gaining importance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-centre retrospective evaluation of patient data with spinal cord injuries and proven urinary bladder cancer and summary of the literature. RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2014, 24 (3 female, 21 male) out of a total of 6599 patients with spinal cord injury were diagnosed with bladder cancer. The average age at bladder cancer diagnosis was 57.67 years, which is well below the average for bladder cancer cases in the general population (male: 73, female: 77). All but one patient had a latency period between the onset of the spinal paralysis and tumour diagnosis of more than 10 years. The median latency was 29.83 years. The median survival for these patients was 11.5 months. Of the 24 patients, 19 (79%) had muscle invasive bladder cancer at ≥T2 at the time of diagnosis. The type of neurogenic bladder (neurogenic detrusor overactivity or acontractility) and the form of bladder drainage do not appear to influence the risk. Long-term indwelling catheter drainage played only a minor role in the investigated patients. CONCLUSIONS: The significantly younger age at onset and the frequency of invasive tumours at diagnosis indicate that spinal cord injury influences bladder cancer risk and prognosis as well. Early detection of bladder cancer in patients with spinal cord injury remains a challenge.

Digital templating in total hip arthroplasty: Additional anteroposterior hip view increases the accuracy.

AIM: To analyze planning total hip arthroplasty (THA) with an additional anteroposterior hip view may increases the accuracy of preoperative planning in THA. METHODS: We conducted prospective digital planning in 100 consecutive patients: 50 of these procedures were planned using pelvic overview only (first group), and the other 50 procedures were planned using pelvic overview plus antero-posterior (a.p.) hip view (second group). The planning and the procedure of each patient were performed exclusively by the senior surgeon. Fifty procedures with retrospective analogues planning were used as the control group (group zero). After the procedure, the planning was compared with the eventually implanted components (cup and stem). For statistic analysis the χ 2 test was used for nominal variables and the t test was used for a comparison of continuous variables. RESULTS: Preoperative planning with an additional a.p. hip view (second group) significantly increased the exact component correlation when compared to pelvic overview only (first group) for both the acetabular cup and the femoral stem (76% cup and 66% stem vs 54% cup and 32% stem). When considering planning ± 1 size, the accuracy in the second group was 96% (48 of 50 patients) for the cup and 94% for the stem (47 of 50 patients). In the analogue control group (group zero), an exact correlation was observed in only 1/3 of the cases. CONCLUSION: Digital THA planning performed by the operating surgeon and based on additional a.p. hip view significantly increases the correlation between preoperative planning and eventual implant sizes.

The fate of proximal femoral fractures in the 10th decade of life: an analysis of 117 consecutive patients.

INTRODUCTION: To date, there is a lack of valid data with larger populations of patients in their 10th decade of life in the analyses of proximal femoral fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The inclusion criteria focused on all proximal femoral fractures in patients 90-99 years of age who underwent surgical treatment between 2009 and 2012. After a period of at least 2 years post-surgery, a retrospective collection of empiric data, including the survival time and surgical revision rate, was performed. Missing data were collected per telephone interview. RESULTS: A total of 121 proximal femoral fractures in 117 patients in their 10th decade of life were treated. The mean age was 92.3 years. 61 fractures of the femoral neck received hemi- or total hip arthroplasty, while 60 pertrochanteric or subtrochanteric fractures were treated by osteosynthesis using proximal femoral nail (PFN) or dynamic hip screw (DHS). At the time of follow-up, 83/117 patients (71%) were already deceased. The mortality after 30 days, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years was 16%, 37%, and 43%, and 55%, respectively. A total of 22 surgical revisions (19%) were performed: 10 due to early infections, 8 due to haematomas, and 4 due to implant failures with a "cut out" of the femoral neck screw exclusively in DHS. The duration of surgery (with regard to surgical revision) and ASA classification (with regard to survival rate) were significant influence factors. Contralateral proximal femoral fractures were identified in 24/117 patients (20%), irrespective of study period. CONCLUSIONS: The proximal femoral fractures in the 10th decade of life are associated with high postoperative mortality within the first 6 months. Surgical revision due to complications did not result in a statistically significant reduction of the survival time. From the osteosynthetic perspective, the DHS was associated with a significantly higher "cut-out" rate compared to PFN procedure. With regard to the alloarthoplasty, there were no significant differences observed between hemi- and total hip arthroplasty. A contralateral femoral fractures was observed in 20% of the total study population, but peri-implant or periprosthetic femoral fractures have not been observed in any of the cases thus far.

The anterior subcutaneous internal fixator (ASIF) for unstable pelvic ring fractures: clinical and radiological mid-term results.

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.