OUTCOME AFTER PELVIC RING INJURIES

Open reduction and internal fixation of unstable pelvic ring fractures provides the best stability of fixation as well as the best late clin ical result. Whereas several studies have supported this both in biome chanical studies and clinical trials, there is still controversy about the long-term outcome of these injuries. A series of 58 patients who had received surgical stabilization of Tile B- and C-type fractures be tween 1985 and 1990 were followed up for an average of 28 months. The follow-up included a detailed clinical and radiological examination, a n evaluation of the patient's general social status and a detailed neu rological and urological screening. The data were summarized in a new scoring system rating radiological, clinical and social results indepe ndently. Patients suffering B-type fractures showed 79% good and excel lent results. Despite the fact that after C-type fractures 50% healed anatomically and 30% healed with a 5 mm or less residual posterior dis placement, only 27% of the patients were rated good or excellent. Furt her studies must be conducted for closer evaluation of risk factors in fluencing the results after anatomical reconstruction of the pelvic ri ng.