A NEW APPROACH TO THE INTERNAL-FIXATION OF UNSTABLE PELVIC FRACTURES

Eighteen patients with horizontally or vertically unstable pelvic frac tures were operated on with a new intrapelvic technique. There were 11 horizontally unstable and seven vertically unstable pelvic ring fract ures. The fractures were exposed through a low Pfannenstiel or lower m idline incision combined with an incision at the iliac crest. This is referred to as the ilioanterior approach. At the operation, all lesion s in the symphysis, rami, and in the sacroiliac region were reduced an d fixed with reconstruction plates and screws. No intraoperative compl ications ensued. The average intraoperative blood loss was 930 ml and the operation time averaged two and one-half hours. The obtained reduc tion was maintained in all but one sacral fracture. All fractures unit ed. The functional recovery was uneventful in all the patients. The go od results obtained in this relatively small series encourage further development of operative techniques in unstable pelvic fractures.