Sadaki Mitsuzawa1, Kenji Kusakabe2, Shota Nakao2, Tetsuya Matsuoka2, Tadashi Yasuda3, Shuichi Matsuda4. 1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, 2-1-1 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan. sadakimitsuzawa@gmail.com. 2. Department of Orthopaedic Trauma, Senshu Trauma and Critical Care Center, Rinku General Medical Center, Osaka, Japan. 3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, 2-1-1 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, 650-0047, Japan. 4. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Posterior pelvic ring injuries are challenging for surgeons to treat adequately due to difficulties with reduction and stabilization. Surgical intervention is a beneficial option to protect neurological structures and provide sufficient stability for early mobilization. The gull wing plate (GWP) is a pre-contoured anatomical locking plate with six screws, and its design is unique among posterior transiliac tension-band plates. The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical results of the GWP. METHODS: Patients who had an unstable posterior pelvic ring injury and underwent internal fixation with GWP were retrospectively analyzed at a trauma center. Demographic data, fracture type, perioperative data, and radiological evaluation with computed tomography (CT) were collected. Clinical outcomes were graded using the functional independence measure (FIM) and Majeed outcome score. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were enrolled (mean age, 54 years), and the mean follow-up period was 23 months. The mean Injury Severity Score was 24 points, and internal fixation was performed 6.6 days post-trauma. CT evaluation showed the lateral surface angle of the uninjured ilium was approximately 68°. The GWP pre-contoured anatomical design closely matched this angle. The mean FIM and Majeed score were 119 and 76 points, respectively, which were graded as excellent (n = 14), good (n = 9), or fair (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: With the retrospective single-center data available, the GWP seems to be a minimally-invasive alternative, provides reliable stability of the posterior pelvic ring and allows for rehabilitation within normal ranges.
BACKGROUND: Posterior pelvic ring injuries are challenging for surgeons to treat adequately due to difficulties with reduction and stabilization. Surgical intervention is a beneficial option to protect neurological structures and provide sufficient stability for early mobilization. The gull wing plate (GWP) is a pre-contoured anatomical locking plate with six screws, and its design is unique among posterior transiliac tension-band plates. The purpose of this study was to investigate clinical results of the GWP. METHODS: Patients who had an unstable posterior pelvic ring injury and underwent internal fixation with GWP were retrospectively analyzed at a trauma center. Demographic data, fracture type, perioperative data, and radiological evaluation with computed tomography (CT) were collected. Clinical outcomes were graded using the functional independence measure (FIM) and Majeed outcome score. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were enrolled (mean age, 54 years), and the mean follow-up period was 23 months. The mean Injury Severity Score was 24 points, and internal fixation was performed 6.6 days post-trauma. CT evaluation showed the lateral surface angle of the uninjured ilium was approximately 68°. The GWP pre-contoured anatomical design closely matched this angle. The mean FIM and Majeed score were 119 and 76 points, respectively, which were graded as excellent (n = 14), good (n = 9), or fair (n = 3). CONCLUSIONS: With the retrospective single-center data available, the GWP seems to be a minimally-invasive alternative, provides reliable stability of the posterior pelvic ring and allows for rehabilitation within normal ranges.
Authors: Amir Matityahu; David Kahler; Christian Krettek; Ulrich Stöckle; Paul Alfred Grutzner; Peter Messmer; Jan Ljungqvist; Florian Gebhard Journal: J Orthop Trauma Date: 2014-12 Impact factor: 2.512