[Trends in the surgical treatment of fractures of the pelvic ring : A nationwide analysis of operations and procedures code (OPS) data between 2005 and 2017].

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological trends and incidences in inpatient pelvic surgery in the period from 2005 to 2007.
METHOD: Approximately 194 million anonymized diagnosis-related groups (DRG) inpatient records were collected by the German Federal Statistical Office between 2005 and 2017. These data were screened for pelvic procedures, gender and age of the patients. Statistical testing was performed using the χ2-test and Mann-Whitney U-test (p < 0.05).
RESULTS: Between 2005 and 2017 the number of closed reduction and internal fixation of the pelvic ring with screw fixation increased by +1116%. The use of screw fixation for closed reduction and internal fixation of the sacroiliac joint increased by +800%. The number of cases of open reduction and internal fixation of fractures of the pelvic ring and pelvic rim increased by +185% and reposition with external fixator increased by +188%. In 2005 more surgical procedures were undertaken in male inpatients, whereas more surgical procedures were undertaken in female inpatients in 2017. In general, a large increase in the number of pelvic procedures was observed in the group of patients >50 years old.
CONCLUSION: There was an increase in the number of all analyzed pelvic procedures between 2005 and 2017. Especially the use of screw fixation increased. The introduction of new techniques (e.g. screw fixation of the sacroiliac joint) and progress and innovation in the field of three-dimensional navigation techniques, the demographic trend, greater mobility and higher demands on functionality of older patients might explain this increase in pelvic procedures.