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Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics

Classification of Anterior Posterior Compression Injuries


- See: Anterior Pelvic Injuries

- Discussion:
    - symphyseal diastasis and/or longitudinal rami fractures;
    - these injuries result from relatively anterior or posterior forces applied to the anterior or posterior superior iliac spine areas;
    - this gives rise to forces that tend to disrupt anterior pelvis, either by fracturing pubic rami or by rupturing ligaments of symphysis pubis;
    - classification:
         - APC-I
                - slight widening of pubic symphysis and/or anterior SI joint
                - stretched but intact anterior SI, sacrotuberous, & sacrospinous ligaments,intact posterior SI ligaments;
         - APC II
                - widened anterior SI joint; disrupted anterior SI, sacrotuberous, and sacrospinous ligaments, intact posterior SI ligaments;
                - continued AP forces tend to cause splaying of anterior pelvis, w/ external rotation of iliac wings swinging open at posterior aspect of SI joints
                        resulting in a type II frx;
         - APC III
                - complete SI joint disruption with lateral displacement;
                - disrupted anterior SI , sacrotuberous, and sacrospinous lig;
                - disrupted posterior SI ligaments;
         - AO type b1 (open book injury - external rotation);
                - injury is caused by an external rotational force which disrupts the symphysis pubis and causes the pelvis to open like a book;
                - hemipelvis is unstable in external rotation, the end point is reached when posterior superior iliac spine abuts against sacrum;
                - in this particular injury, posterior ligamentous structures remain intact so no vertical instability is possible;
                - lesion may be unilateral or bilateral;
                - if symphysis pubis is open < 2.5 cm, only symphysis is disrupted but not sacrospinous or anterior sacroiliac ligaments;
                - if the symphysis is open more than 2.5 cm there is disruption of the sacrospinous and anterior sacroiliac ligaments;
    - stability:
         - depends on integrity of various ligaments involved;
         - division of symphysis allows approx 2.5 cm of diastasis of symphysis;
         - additional division of anterior sacroiliac, sacrospinous, & sacrotuberous ligaments allows further diastasis (causing type II)
         - complete instability is not achieved until all of sacroiliac ligaments are disrupted (type III);



- Management:
    - this injury is stabilized by reducing anterior symphyseal diastasis;
    - external pelvic fixator:
           - this maneuver uses intact posterior SI ligaments as tension band and is best accomplished w/ external pelvic fixator;
    - hemmorhage:
           - hemmorhage is directly linked to close proximity of internal iliac vessels & anterior SI ligaments,  which are disrupted in open book injuries;
           - angiographic embolization is indicated only if pt is hemodynamically unstable after pelvic reduction;
           - closed techniques:
                   - pelvic sling is applied around the greater trochanters and the symphysis pubis
                   - tensioned to 180 N;
                   - references:
                         - Noninvasive reduction of open-book pelvic fractures by circumferential compression.
                         - Emergent Management of Pelvic Ring Fractures with Use of Circumferential Compression. Michael Bottlang, PhD et al. JBJS 84:S43-S47 (2002)
                         - Unstable pelvic ring disruptions in unstable patients. Kregor PJ, Routt ML Jr.  Injury, 1999;30(Suppl 2): 19-28
                         - A rational approach to pelvic trauma. Resuscitation and early definitive stabilization.
                         - Prehospital stabilization of pelvic dislocations: a new strap belt to provide temporary hemodynamic stabilization.
                         - Stabilization of pelvic ring disruptions with a circumferential sheet.
                         - The antishock pelvic clamp.
                         - Pressure-volume characteristics of the intact and disrupted pelvic retroperitoneum.









The long-term results of nonoperatively treated major pelvic disruptions.

Our results of surgical management of unstable pelvic ring injuries










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Original Text by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD.

Last updated by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD on Sunday, July 5, 2009 4:46 pm