3D image-guided surgery for fragility fractures of the sacrum

A Case of U-shaped Sacral Fracture After Longstanding Spinopelvic Fixation Treated With Percutaneous Sacroiliac Joint Fusion and Iliosacral Osteosynthesis

Sacral fractures are pelvic ring injuries that usually occur following a fall from height and may present with neurological injury. They are divided into several subtypes based on the pattern and location of injury. Certain subtypes require operative management due to the risk of neural compromise and inadequate axial load transfer, limiting mobility. Spinopelvic fixation has been reported as an efficient surgical treatment to restore the stability of U-shaped sacral fractures and to accelerate healing by relieving sacral stress. It is unclear if low-velocity sacral fractures occurring after longstanding lumbosacral fusion with pelvic fixation require additional surgical intervention. An elderly female with osteoporosis and prior T4-pelvis instrumented fusion sustained a fragility sacral fracture and was treated conservatively. At follow-up, she developed a symptomatic U-shaped sacral fracture. The increased fracture displacement and nonunion were chiefly attributed to sacroiliac joint hypermobility. A percutaneous osteosynthesis at the S1 and S2 levels was performed with a novel type of implant to achieve concomitant sacroiliac joint stabilization and fusion. Implants were placed with the help of intraoperative three-dimensional imaging and image-guided navigation to avoid the previously installed pelvic hardware. In summary, U-shaped fractures can develop nonunion despite pre-existing spinopelvic fixation and can be treated adequately with percutaneous iliosacral osteosynthesis. A sacroiliac joint fixation and fusion should be considered in the same setting as sacroiliac joint instability may contribute to or exacerbate nonunion.

Recent Progress in the Classification and Operation of Sacral Fractures

Most sacral fractures are caused by high-energy, violent injuries, often accompanied by lumbosacral plexus injuries, which can cause instability of the posterior pelvic ring or lumbosacral junction in severe cases. Currently, the most commonly used clinical classification methods are Denis classification, Tile classification, Isler classification, and Denis II classification. In recent years, lumbosacral vertebral injury classification and injury degree scoring systems have often been applied clinically as the choice of treatment methods. At present, the internal fixation and implantation methods of sacral fracture are developing in the direction of positive, efficient, safe, and minimally invasive. But different fixation methods have their own indications, which should be strictly followed. This article reviews the classification of sacral fractures and the latest progress in surgical treatment.

Resource Consumption and Remuneration Aspects in Navigated Screw Fixation Procedures with or without Additional Sacroplasty for Fragility Fractures of the Sacrum-A Prospective Clinical Study

Surgical treatment for sacral fragility fractures using navigation-assisted screw fixation (NSF) is a modern, technically demanding procedure. Additional sacroplasty (ASP) has been shown to provide only insignificant clinical benefits for patients. This investigation highlights procedural economic aspects and evaluates results with regard to resource scarcity in order to be able to decide, whether ASP has a justification in NSF procedures beyond clinical aspects. From February 2011 to May 2017, all individuals with sacral fragility fractures surgically treated using 3D-fluoroscopy for NSF (n = 26) or NSF + ASP (n = 26) were enrolled. Outcome parameters were operative time, 3D-/2D-radiation dose, 2D-fluoroscopy time, material costs and reimbursement. In the two groups, a total of 52 individuals with 124 fragility fracture sites in sacral vertebrae I and II were surgically treated with similar numbers of screws inserted (p ≈ 0.679) requiring similar 3D- (p ≈ 0.546) and 2D-fluoroscopy radiation doses (p ≈ 0.236). In procedures with ASP, average 2D-fluoroscopy time (46.6 s vs. 32.7 s, p ≈ 0.004), and mean surgical duration (119 min vs. 96 min, p ≈ 0.011) were significantly longer. Mean implant costs (EUR 668.68 vs. EUR 204.34, p < 0.001), and reimbursement (EUR 8416.01 vs. EUR 6584.49, p ≈ 0.006) were significantly higher. Although comparison of costs and reimbursements indicated a positive financial balance, profitability was not confirmed, because financial expense for extended operative time prevented an economic advantage of procedures with ASP in this investigation. A formula was developed based on presented study data to allow similar economical decisions in other health care systems or institutions with differing resource costs.

FRAGILITY FRACTURES OF THE SACRUM: A SILENT EPIDEMIC

Fragility fractures of the sacrum (FFS) are caused by low-energy trauma in the elderly population. Due to the nuanced symptomatology, many FFS remains unrecognized and the prevalence is underestimated. The clinical presentation varies, typically presenting with weightbearing low back pain without even remembering of a previous trauma. Radiographs are usually insufficient for the diagnosis and second level imaging modalities are required. In particular, magnetic resonance demonstrated the highest diagnostic accuracy. Treatment should aim to guarantee early mobilization and weightbearing, efficient pain relief and early discharge from the hospital to a proper facility for rehabilitation. Conservative treatment is reserved to non-displaced fractures with an adequate pain relief within one week allowing early mobilization. Otherwise, surgical treatment must be preferred. Nowadays, minimally invasive techniques, such as ileo-sacral screws or trans-sacral bar osteosynthesis, are safe and effective procedures and have overcome open procedures. In more complex patterns, with complete dissociation between the pelvic ring and the ilio-lumbar spine, spino-pelvic fixation is the procedure of choice.

Indications for surgical fixation of low-energy pelvic ring fractures in elderly: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

There are no generally accepted criteria for when and how to fixate osteoporotic pelvic ring fractures in elderly. This systemic review aims to summarize the currently available literature regarding the indications and methods for surgical fixation of fragility fractures of the pelvic ring in elderly patients after low-energy trauma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Pubmed and Embase databases were searched using the key words pelvic fractures, geriatric, fragility, osteoporosis, and surgical fixation, and their synonyms. Extracted data including the indication, method of operative fixation, and post-operative outcomes (pain levels, mobility, complications and mortality) were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The studies were too heterogeneous to perform a meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Eleven cohort studies (3 comparative and 8 noncomparative) were included. The methodological quality was poor to moderate; the studies were heterogeneous regarding study design and reported outcomes. In all included studies operative treatment for all fracture types was preceded by a period of conservative treatment comprising physiotherapy-guided full weight-bearing. Time to surgery differed widely. For posterior ring fixation, the majority of the included studies used minimally invasive surgery with trans-iliosacral screws. Five studies described a form of additional fixation of the anterior pelvic ring but did not report the indications.

CONCLUSIONS

Fixation of low-energy pelvic ring fractures in elderly is commonly performed after a period of conservative treatment, with persistent pain as the most frequent indication for fixation. Fracture classification based on stability seems to be of secondary importance. Timing for surgical fixation of the pelvic ring fracture in elderly patients remains diverse. Large well-designed comparative prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are needed to provide clearly substantiated guidelines.

Navigated Transsacral Screw Fixation for the Treatment of Bilateral Sacral Insufficiency Fractures

Nondisplaced and minimally displaced sacral insufficiency fractures are increasingly being recognized as a cause of immobilizing low back pain in the elderly. These insufficiency fractures are most accurately diagnosed by visualizing sacral bone marrow edema on magnetic resonance imaging, which is the radiologic imaging modality with the highest sensitivity for identifying these fractures. Successful treatment options range from nonsurgical (eg, bed rest, pain medication, mobilization, antiosteoporotic medication, low-intensity-pulsed ultrasound, etc.) to surgical management (ie, sacroplasty and/or osteosynthesis with iliosacral screws or lumbosacral hinge fixation with or without application of reinforcing bone cement). The appropriate surgical treatment for frail subjects requires a less-invasive technique that establishes full weight-bearing stability for successful early remobilization of affected elderly and multimorbid individuals. Iliosacral screw osteosynthesis with a single C-arm is a common surgical technique for stabilizing the posterior pelvic ring after traumatic instabilities or fractures of the sacrum. Bilateral injuries are generally addressed from both sides of the pelvis. This article describes the surgical technique of 3D image-guided transsacral screw fixation for unilateral and bilateral nondisplaced sacral insufficiency fractures in the elderly using a single-sided approach, and specifies the associated preoperative and postoperative management. The procedure is illustrated in an instructional video that demonstrates step-by-step, how the navigated surgical procedure is performed.

Does 3D-Assisted Operative Treatment of Pelvic Ring Injuries Improve Patient Outcome?-A Systematic Review of the Literature

Background: There has been an exponential growth in the use of advanced technologies for three-dimensional (3D) virtual pre- and intra-operative planning of pelvic ring injury surgery but potential benefits remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in intra- and post-operative results between 3D and conventional (2D) surgery. Methods: A systematic review was performed including published studies between 1 January 2010 and 22 May 2020 on all available 3D techniques in pelvic ring injury surgery. Studies were assessed for their methodological quality according to the Modified McMaster Critical Review form. Differences in operation time, blood loss, fluoroscopy time, screw malposition rate, fracture reduction and functional outcome between 3D-assisted and conventional (2D) pelvic injury treatment were evaluated and a best-evidence synthesis was performed. Results: Eighteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, evaluating a total of 988 patients. Overall quality was moderate. Regarding intra-operative results of 3D-assisted versus conventional surgery: The weighted mean operation time per screw was 43 min versus 52 min; for overall operation time 126 min versus 141 min; blood loss 275 ± 197 mL versus 549 ± 404 mL; fluoroscopy time 74 s versus 125 s and fluoroscopy frequency 29 ± 4 versus 63 ± 3. In terms of post-operative outcomes of 3D-assisted versus conventional surgery: weighted mean screw malposition rate was 8% versus 18%; quality of fracture reduction measured by the total excellent/good rate by Matta was 86% versus 82% and Majeed excellent/good rate 88% versus 83%. Conclusion: The 3D-assisted surgery technologies seem to have a positive effect on operation time, blood loss, fluoroscopy dose, time and frequency as well as accuracy of screw placement. No improvement in clinical outcome in terms of fracture reduction and functional outcome has been established so far. Due to a wide range of methodological quality and heterogeneity between the included studies, results should be interpreted with caution.

Computer navigation-assisted minimally invasive percutaneous screw placement for pelvic fractures

Pelvic fractures are often caused by high-energy injuries and accompanied by hemodynamic instability. Traditional open surgery has a large amount of bleeding, which is not suitable for patients with acute pelvic fracture. Navigation-guided, percutaneous puncture-screw implantation has gradually become a preferred procedure due to its advantages, which include less trauma, faster recovery times, and less bleeding. However, due to the complexity of pelvic anatomy, doctors often encounter some problems when using navigation to treat pelvic fractures. This article reviews the indications, contraindications, surgical procedures, and related complications of this procedure for the treatment of sacral fractures, sacroiliac joint injuries, pelvic ring injuries, and acetabular fractures. We also analyze the causes of inaccurate screw placement. Percutaneous screw placement under navigational guidance has the advantages of high accuracy, low incidence of complications and small soft-tissue damage, minimal blood loss, short hospital stays, and quick recovery. There is no difference in the incidence of complications between surgeries performed by new doctors and experienced ones. However, computer navigation technology requires extensive training, and attention should be given to avoid complications such as screw misplacement, intestinal injury, and serious blood vessel and nerve injuries caused by navigational drift.