Long-term outcome in patients with combined spinal and pelvic fractures

Patient-reported Outcome in Surgically Treated Pelvic Ring Injuries at 5 Years Post-surgery

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Long-term prospective data on patient-reported outcome after surgical treatment of pelvic ring injuries are scarce. This study aimed at describing results at 5 years post-surgery using validated outcome measures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients admitted for surgical treatment of pelvic ring injuries were prospectively included and asked to report their outcome at 1, 2 and 5 years post-surgery using two patient-reported outcome measures: the generic Short-Form 36 and the condition-specific pelvic discomfort index. Data were evaluated using mixed-effects linear models.

RESULTS

There were 108 patients (68 males and 40 females), mean age 38 years. Injury type according to the AO/OTA-classification was B-type in 68 patients and C-type in 40 patients. No domain of the Short-Form 36 reached norm values at 5 years post-surgery. Females reported a worse outcome than males concerning general health (p < 0.01) at 5 years. Recovery of physical function (p < 0.01), mental health (p = 0.04), and pain (p = 0.01) was observed for males at 5 years compared to earlier assessments, while females on the contrary described more pain at this time-point (p = 0.03). Mean pelvic discomfort index at 5 years was 27, indicating moderate residual pelvic discomfort overall. Males reported less pelvic discomfort than females at 5 years (p = 0.02) and improved when compared to results at 2 years (p = 0.02), while females did not. Influence of age, fracture type, and presence of associated injuries on patient-reported outcome was limited.

CONCLUSION

Surgically treated pelvic ring injuries are associated with long-standing negative effects on patient-reported outcome. Males report a better outcome than females at 5 years post-surgery.

Chronic low back pain after lumbosacral fracture due to sagittal and frontal vertebral imbalance

PROBLEM AND HYPOTHESIS

Over time, some patients with unilateral or bilateral lumbosacral injuries experience chronic low back pain. We studied the sagittal and frontal balance in a population with these injuries to determine whether mismatch in the pelvic and lumbar angles are associated with chronic low back pain.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with posterior pelvic ring fractures (Tile C1, C2, C3 and A3.3) that had healed were included. Foreign patients and those with an associated spinal or acetabular fracture or nonunion were excluded. The review consisted of subjective questionnaires, a clinical examination, and standing A/P and lateral stereoradiographic views. The pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), pelvic incidence (PI), measured lumbar lordosis (LLm), T9 sagittal offset, leg discrepancy (LD) and lateral curvature (LC). The expected lumbar lordosis (LLe) was calculated using the formula LLe=PI+9°. We defined lumbopelvic mismatch (LPM) as the difference between LLm and LLe being equal or greater than 25% of LLe.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients were reviewed after an average follow-up of 8.8 years [5.4-15]. There were four Tile C1, five Tile C2, five Tile C3 and one Tile A3.3 fracture. Ten of the 15 patients had low back pain. The mean angles were: LLm 49.6° and LLe 71.9° (P=0.002), PT 21.3°, SS 44.1°, PI 62.9° in patients with low back pain and LLm 57.4° and LLe 63.2° (P=0.55), PT 13°, SS 43.1°, PI 54.2° in those without. LPM was present in 9 patients, 8 of who had low back pain (P=0.02). Six patients, all of whom had low back pain, had a mean LC of 7.5° [4.5-23] (P=0.02). The mean LD was 0.77cm.

DISCUSSION

The findings of this small study suggest that patients who experience low back pain after their posterior arch of the pelvic ring fracture has healed, have a lumbopelvic mismatch. Early treatment of these patients should aim to reestablish the anatomy of the pelvic base relative to the frontal and sagittal balance.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

Are work return and leaves of absence predictable after an unstable pelvic ring injury?

Background

Resuming work after surgical treatment of an unstable pelvic ring injury is often impeded because of residual disability. The aim of this study was to test which factors influence return to work, ability to return to the same job function as before the injury, leaves of absence, and incapacitation after sustaining a pelvic fracture.

Materials and methods

We performed a retrospective study on patients with surgically treated pelvic fractures. Medical records were reviewed to document patients’ demographic data, the extent of follow-up care, diagnosis of the injury (according to the Tile system of classification), type of surgical treatment, injury severity, and the time from trauma to definitive surgery. We also recorded the classification of patients’ physical status according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and details about admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Patients were interviewed to note the number of days before returning to work and their ability to maintain their previously held jobs.

Results

Fifty patients were included in the study, and their mean age was 46.3 ± 12.6 years. The median time to return to work was 195 days. Twelve patients (24 %) lost their jobs and 17 (34 %) resumed their previous job with a change of tasks. ICU admission and time from trauma to definitive surgery were negatively correlated with return to the previously held job. Returning to the same job tasks was not associated with any of the factors investigated. Polytrauma, ICU admission, and time from trauma to definitive surgery were associated with longer leaves of absence.

Conclusions

Work reintegration after pelvic ring injuries is a major issue for patients and health care systems: 58 % of patients were not able to return to or lost their job. Factors correlated with leaves of absence were injury severity, delayed definitive fixation, and ICU admission.

Level of evidence

IV (case series).

Use of urostomy bags in the management of perioperative urine leakage after radical cystectomy

BACKGROUND

Urine leakage is a common complication in patients with bladder cancer after radical cystectomy and neobladder reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of the use of urostomy bags in the management of urine leakage in patients with bladder cancer after radical cystectomy.

METHODS

Urine leakage during the perioperative period was retrospectively analyzed in 483 patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical cystectomy from 2004 to 2010. Before 2008, all patients with urine leakages were treated by routine dressing changes (group A). After 2008, the leakages were managed with urostomy bags (group B). The perioperative quality of life (EQ-5D) and cost for urine leakage for both groups were compared in this controlled study.

RESULTS

The average cost in management of preoperative urine leakage was significantly higher in group A than in group B as well as the patients with extravasations of urine or lymphoceles. Patients in group B had an overall better perioperative life quality compared with group A. In particular, the score for pain/discomfort was significantly higher in group A than in group B.

CONCLUSIONS

The management of perioperative urine leakage with urostomy bags avoided constant body wetness and significantly increased the quality of life and reduced the special costs of urine leakage in patients with bladder cancer after cystectomy.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Early use of urostomy bag is a good choice for perioperative urine leakage in patients with bladder cancer after radical cystectomy and neobladder reconstruction.

Patient-reported health minimum 8 years after operatively treated displaced sacral fractures: a prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To assess long-term patient-reported health (PRH) after displaced sacral fractures, its association with clinical outcomes, and changes over time.

DESIGN

Prospective, longitudinal single-cohort study.

SETTING

Level I trauma center.

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS

From 1996 to 2001, 31 consecutive patients with operatively treated displaced sacral fractures participated in a 1-year follow-up. Twenty-eight of them were available for the present long-term follow-up of mean 10.7 years (range, 8.1-13.4) postinjury.

INTERVENTION

Surgical treatment with open or closed reduction and internal fixation.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

PRH was the main outcome, determined by the Short Form-36 (SF-36). Data were also collected on pain (using a visual analog scale), bladder function, neurologic deficits in the lower extremities, bowel function, sexual function, activities of daily living, and employment status. SF-36 scores from the present study were compared with norm-based scores for the Norwegian general population and 1-year scores.

RESULTS

At the present follow-up, mean 10.7 years (range, 8.1-13.4) postinjury, SF-36 scores were significantly lower than norm-based scores for all domains except mental health. No significant changes were observed between 1-year scores and scores from the present study. Pain correlated significantly with poor scores in the domains physical functioning (P = 0.05), role physical (P = 0.01), bodily pain (P = 0.003), general health (P = 0.007), and role emotional (P = 0.006). Sexual dysfunction correlated with poor social functioning (P = 0.013) and poor role emotional (P = 0.04); and bowel dysfunction with bodily pain (P = 0.02) and poor role emotional (P = 0.03). No correlations were found between SF-36 scores and bladder dysfunction or neurologic deficits.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with displaced sacral fractures reported poor PRH, mean 10.7 years after the initial injury, with no significant improvement compared with 1-year follow-up. A significant association was found between pain and PRH.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic level IV. description of levels of evidence.

The long-term clinical outcome after pelvic ring injuries

We report the functional and socioeconomic long-term outcome of patients with pelvic ring injuries.

We identified 109 patients treated at a Level I trauma centre between 1973 and 1990 with multiple blunt orthopaedic injuries including an injury to the pelvic ring, with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of ≥ 16. These patients were invited for clinical review at a minimum of ten years after the initial injury, at which point functional results, general health scores and socioeconomic factors were assessed.

In all 33 isolated anterior (group A), 33 isolated posterior (group P) and 43 combined anterior/posterior pelvic ring injuries (group A/P) were included. The mean age of the patients at injury was 28.8 years (5 to 55) and the mean ISS was 22.7 (16 to 44).

At review the mean Short-Form 12 physical component score for the A/P group was 38.71 (22.12 to 56.56) and the mean Hannover Score for Polytrauma Outcome subjective score was 67.27 (12.48 to 147.42), being significantly worse compared with the other two groups (p = 0.004 and p = 0.024, respectively). A total of 42 patients (39%) had a limp and 12 (11%) required crutches. Car or public transport usage was restricted in 16 patients (15%). Overall patients in groups P and A/P had a worse outcome. The long-term outcome of patients with posterior or combined anterior/posterior pelvic ring injuries is poorer than of those with an isolated anterior injury.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:548–53.

Functional outcome 10 years after surgical treatment of displaced sacral fractures

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective, longitudinal single-cohort study of 28 patients with displaced sacral fractures treated with internal fixation.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the long-term functional outcome concerning neurological deficits in the lower extremities and urinary, bowel, and sexual functions after severe sacral fractures and to compare the long-term results with the results from a previously reported 1-year follow-up of the same patient cohort.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Displaced sacral fractures may result in considerable functional morbidity. Problems concerning walking, urinary and bowel functions, and sexual dysfunctions have been reported in the short and medium term. Little is known, however, of the long-term morbidities in these patients.

METHODS

Twenty-eight patients from the 1-year follow-up cohort were prospectively followed for median 10 years (range, 8-13). Sensorimotor function was classified according to the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score. Urinary voiding function was assessed with uroflowmetry, and bowel and sexual functions were assessed using a structured interview. For comparison with previous data from the 1-year follow-up, the Wilcoxon signed rank test for paired samples was used.

RESULTS

Twenty-six patients had persistent neurological deficits in the lower extremities; one patient was not testable and only 1 was asymptomatic. Compared with preinjury, 5 had slightly changed, 11 significantly changed, and 3 completely changed urinary function. Six had a slightly changed and 2 completely changed bowel pattern. Comparing the long-term results with the 1-year data showed no significant changes in neurological deficits (P = 0.47) and bowel function (P = 0.13), whereas urinary function had deteriorated in 39% (P = 0.005). Sexual dysfunctions were reported in 44% versus 38% at the 1-year follow-up.

CONCLUSION

A high rate of impairments was observed in this study; urinary and sexual problems deteriorated over time, whereas neurological deficits of the lower extremities and bowel function did not change. These severe problems should be addressed early in the rehabilitation period and the patients should be followed by adequate expertise for many years after the injury.

Reporting and interpretation of the functional outcomes after the surgical treatment of disruptions of the pelvic ring

We performed a systematic review of the literature to evaluate the use and interpretation of generic and disease-specific functional outcome instruments in the reporting of outcome after the surgical treatment of disruptions of the pelvic ring. A total of 28 papers met our inclusion criteria, with eight reporting only generic outcome instruments, 13 reporting only pelvis-specific outcome instruments, and six reporting both. The Short-Form 36 (SF-36) was by far the most commonly used generic outcome instrument, used in 12 papers, with widely variable reporting of scores. The pelvis-specific outcome instruments were used in 19 studies; the Majeed score in ten, Iowa pelvic score in six, Hannover pelvic score in two and the Orlando pelvic score in one. Four sets of authors, all testing construct validity based on correlation with the SF-36, performed psychometric testing of three pelvis-specific instruments (Majeed, IPS and Orlando scores). No testing of responsiveness, content validity, criterion validity, internal consistency or reproducibility was performed.

The existing literature in this area is inadequate to inform surgeons or patients in a meaningful way about the functional outcomes of these fractures after fixation.

[Acetabular fractures in the elderly. Outcome of open reduction and internal fixation]

The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical outcome and incidence of hip arthritis in elderly patients with acetabular fractures. Because of poor bone quality in the elderly, even a low-energy trauma may lead to an acetabular fracture. An anatomical reconstruction of the acetabulum is necessary to achieve sufficient stability also for a potential hip arthroplasty. So far, there is very limited information on the outcome of acetabular fractures in the elderly. During a period of 6 years (2001-2006), 48 patients older than 60 years were admitted to our department with an acetabular fracture. Thirty-nine patients were treated operatively and nine patients non-operatively. Twenty-nine operatively treated patients were followed up. Nineteen of them were assessed using EQ-5D, SF-12 and Merle d'Aubigné questionnaires in addition to their clinical examination. Ten other surgical patients were only examined using the questionnaires. Of the 29 patients that were followed up, 5 underwent total hip arthroplasty due to secondary post-traumatic hip arthritis after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The range of motion of the operated hip was comparable to that of the non-operated contralateral side. However, the internal rotation was found to be slightly decreased at the operated side when compared to the non-operated contralateral side. Merle d'Aubigné score and physical and mental SF-12 score components as well as quality of life were better in patients treated with ORIF compared to those patients that were treated by secondary hip arthroplasty. Regarding the different treatment strategies (ORIF vs primary hip arthroplasty vs non-operative treatment) of acetabular fractures in the elderly, data from the literature are conflicting. Our results indicate that ORIF represents a good treatment option for acetabular fractures in the elderly. In patients that did not develop secondary hip arthritis, a good clinical outcome and quality of life was documented.

Biomechanical aspects of pelvic ring reconstruction techniques: Evidence today

Despite the remarkable advances achieved within the boundaries of the new discipline of Pelvic surgery, pelvic ring disruptions remain challenging and complex problems in orthopaedics. The long-term complications related to reconstruction techniques of these injuries have motivated researchers and surgeons to explore various alternative treatment modalities. Several biomechanical studies have addressed these issues. We performed a medline search including studies published during the last 30 years. Our search yielded 114 studies, 39 of which met the pre-specified inclusion criteria and were further critically analysed and discussed regarding the biomechanical aspects of pelvic ring reconstruction techniques. Based on observational approach and evaluation of the studies specific keypoints are highlighted comprising the clinical translation of the biomechanical supported findings.

Patients with pelvic fracture: what factors are associated with mortality?

BACKGROUND

Pelvic fracture is one of the major injuries that lead to death in patients who sustain high-impact injuries such as road traffic accidents and falls from height.

AIMS

This study aims to look at the epidemiology and the significant predictors of mortality in victims with pelvic fracture presenting to the emergency department (ED) of an urban Asian city.

METHODS

This was a retrospective data analysis of all trauma patients with pelvic fracture who were treated at the ED of an urban adult hospital in Singapore from April 2001 to December 2004. Student's t-test and χ(2) test were used in statistical analysis where appropriate.

RESULTS

The study included 179 consecutive patients. Sixty-four percent of patients were males, and 71% of patients were in the 20-49-year-old age group. Road traffic accidents and falls from height were the two most common mechanisms of injury. Mortality rate was 37%. Pelvic fracture severity, shock and coma at presentation, and the presence of concurrent head and chest injuries were associated with increased mortality. Gender, other mechanisms of injury and other concomitant injuries were not associated with increased mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

The mortality rate of trauma patients with pelvic fracture continues to be high. In such patients, predictors of mortality are the severity of the pelvic fracture, the presence of coma, shock, and head and chest injuries.

Treatment and outcomes of pelvic malunions and nonunions: a systematic review

Although acute management of pelvic fractures and their long-term functional outcome have been widely documented, important information regarding malunion and nonunion of these fractures is sparse. Despite their relative rarity, malunions and nonunions cause disabling symptoms and have major socioeconomic implications. We analyzed the factors predisposing a pelvic injury to develop malunion/nonunion, the clinical presentation of these complications, and the efficacy of the reported operative protocols in 437 malunions/nonunions of 25 clinical studies. Treatment of these demanding complications appeared effective in the majority of the cases: overall union rates averaged 86.1%, pain relief as much as 93%, patient satisfaction 79%, and return to a preinjury level of activities 50%. Nevertheless, the patient should be informed about the incidence of perioperative complications, including neurologic injury (5.3%), symptomatic vein thrombosis (5.0%), pulmonary embolism (1.9%), and deep wound infection (1.6%). For a successful outcome, a thorough preoperative plan and methodical operative intervention are essential. In establishing effective evidence-based future clinical practice, the introduction of multicenter networks of pelvic trauma management appears a necessity.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, therapeutic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.