Skip to main content

Official Journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

  • Case Report
  • Published:

Open reduction and internal fixation of an unstable pelvic ring injury during pregnancy

Abstract

We report a case of an unstable vertical shear injury of the pelvis in a pregnant patient with a viable foetus. The combination of skeletal traction and pelvic external fixation failed to achieve satisfactory reduction. Open reduction and internal fixation of the pubic symphysis and the left sacro-iliac joint were performed without affecting the pregnancy. At the one-year follow-up, the patient was completely asymptomatic. We feel that surgical treatment of pelvic fractures can be offered to pregnant patients after thoroughly considering the potential benefits and dangers of surgery to the patient and the foetus.

References

  1. Speer DP, Peltier LF (1987) Pelvic fractures and pregnancy. J Trauma 12:474–480

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Semba RT, Yasakawa K, Gustilo RB (1983) Critical analysis of results of 53 Malgaigne fractures of the pelvis. J Trauma 23:35–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Copeland CE, Bosse MJ, McCarthy ML et al (1997) Effect of trauma and pelvic fracture on female genitourinary, sexual, and reproductive function. J Orthop Trauma 11:73–81

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ali J, Yeo A, Gara TJ et al (1997) Predictors of foetal mortality in pregnant trauma patients. J Trauma 42:782–785

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Korovessis P, Baikousis A, Stamatakis M et al (2000) Medium and long-term results of open reduction and internal fixation for unstable pelvic ring fractures. Orthopaedics 23:1165–1171

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Ward EF, Tomasin J, Van der Griend RA (1987) Open reduction and internal fixation of vertical shear pelvic fractures. J Trauma 27:291–295

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Dunlop DJ, McCahill JP, Blakemore ME (1997) Internal fixation of an acetabular fracture during pregnancy. Injury 28:481–482

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Pals SD, Brown CW, Friermood TG (1992) Open reduction and internal fixation of an acetabular fracture during pregnancy. J Orthop Trauma 6:379–381

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Yosipovitch Z, Goldberg I, Ventura E, Neri A (1992) Open reduction of acetabular fracture in pregnancy. A case report. Clin Orthop 282:229–232

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gin T (1993) Pharmacokinetic optimisation of general anaesthesia in pregnancy. Clin Pharmacokinet 25:59–70

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Kumar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Alvi, F., Kumar, A. & Clayson, A.D. Open reduction and internal fixation of an unstable pelvic ring injury during pregnancy. J Orthopaed Traumatol 8, 192–194 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10195-007-0091-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10195-007-0091-y

Key words