2-YEAR RESULTS OF CONSERVATIVE THERAPY OF UNSTABLE PELVIC RING FRACTURES IN CHILDREN

Unstable fractures of the pelvic ring in children are usually treated conservatively. The results of this therapy were evaluated retrospecti vely in 17 children who had been under 13 years old at the time of inj ury. All but 4 of the children had additional injuries. The pelvic fra cture had a rotational instability in 9 patients and was vertically un stable in 8 patients. The follow-up period was 2-25 years. Clinical re sults were good provided that there was a good radiological result wit h only minimal asymmetry of the pelvic ring or none at all. Functional leg length differences and skoliotic deformation of the lumbar spine due to traumatic and/or growth-related asymmetry of the pelvis caused chronic low back pain in 5 of 8 patients. Only fracture healing in a n ear-anatomical position can ensure good clinical results in pelvic fra ctures in children. Considering the results presented here, operative reduction has to be recommended when reduction cannot be achieved by c onservative means. However, there is no proof that open reduction and internal fixation provide better results than conservative therapy in unstable pelvic ring fractures in children.