OUTCOME OF OPERATIVELY TREATED UNSTABLE POSTERIOR PELVIC RING DISRUPTIONS

Forty-six patients with 48 operatively fixed unstable posterior pelvic ring disruptions were observed for an average of 44 months. Two third s of the patients returned to their original jobs and 16% changed jobs because of an associated injury. Sixty-three percent of the patients had no pain or pain only on strenuous activity and ambulated without l imitation. However, 35% of the patients had significant neurologic inj uries that compromised their final result. Properly performed open red uction and internal fixation of unstable posterior pelvic ring injurie s may be expected to yield good functional results in the majority of patients, Associated injuries continue to be a major source of disabil ity.