fixation of sacral fractures by posterior plate

Conditions: Sacral Fracture

Summary: the sacrum is the mechanical nucleus of the axial skeleton, serving as the base for the spinal column as well as the keystone for the pelvic ring. sacral fractures occur in approximately 45% of all pelvic fractures. the mechanism of injury resulting in sacral fractures typically is one of high energy from motor vehicle accidents and fall from a height. approximately 30% of sacral fractures are identified late. unrecognized and inadequately treated sacral fractures may lead to painful deformity and progressive loss of neurological function. delayed surgery for posttraumatic sacral deformity is complex, and the results are often less favorable than those of early surgery. therefore, determination of an integrated diagnostic and therapeutic approach to sacral fractures should be a goal.

most sacral fractures can be treated non operatively. these include stable, non displaced sacral fractures without a significant associated pelvic ring disruption, fractures not involving the lumbosacral junction, and fractures without neurologic injury. surgical options range from minimally invasive techniques to formal open reduction and internal fixation. techniques for neural decompression include laminotomy and foraminotomy, anterior bone disimpaction, and lumbosacral plexus neurolysis. anterior sacral and pelvic stabilization techniques involve various methods of anterior stabilization of the pelvic ring (e.g., application of a sacroiliac plate). posterior stabilization techniques include percutaneous sacroiliac screw fixation, bilateral sacroiliac screw fixation with posterior tension-band plate fixation, posterior alar plate fixation, and lumbopelvic segmental fixation. percutaneously placed iliosacral screws are commonly used for the fixation of sacroiliac joint disruptions and for sacral fractures. adequate experience and intraoperative imaging is necessary to safely insert these screws, since the safe corridor for placement is fairly small. in some patients, such as those with a dysmorphic sacrum. transiliac posterior tension band fixation, offers an alternative method for stabilization of the posterior pelvic ring. it is indicated in:vertically unstable comminuted sacral fractures, for which iliosacral screws may be insufficient. it is also indicated in patients with a dysmorphic sacrum in whom there is no safe corridor for placement of iliosacral screws. threaded rods or a posterior plate may be secured to the posterior ilium.also it can be used in bilateral sacral fracture; late presented (neglected) sacral fractures and in osteoporotic sacral fracture.it is minimally invasive technique with less exposure to irradiation, image-independent, easy, reproducible technique, economic conventional implant and stable fixation.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * comminuted sacral fracture, * bilateral sacral fracture, * osteoporotic sacral fractures, * spinopelvic dissociation and * late presented (neglected) sacral fracture. exclusion criteria: * patients with a preoperative diagnosis of a morel- lavallee lesion, * unfit patients * immature skeleton will be excluded