Lateral Compression Sacral Fractures Have Less Favourable Outcome Compared to Crescent Fractures in Patients Less Than 50 Years Old

Background. Lateral compression (LC) accounts for a wide spectrum of pelvic ring injuries (PRIs). The primary aim of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life outcomes of surgically fixed LC crescent versus sacral fractures in patients less than 50 years old after high energy trauma. Material and methods. We retrospectively reviewed the database for PRIs treated surgically from Decem­ber 2011 to January 2019 at our tertiary level trauma centre. The EuroQoL-5D (EQ5D5L) questionnaire was elec­tronically sent to all patients. Multiple linear regression was conducted to determine the predictors of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Results. The study included 37 patients. The mean age was 26 SD 9.46 years. The mean duration of follow-up was 3.78 (r:1-9) years. Twenty-one (56.8%) and 16 (43.2%) patients sustained sacral fractures and crescent fractures, respectively. Multi-regression analysis showed that any patient with LC injury without a sacral fracture is expected to have a utility value of QALY= 0.876. A reduction of 0.072 units in QALYs is expected in the presence of sacral fracture. About 71% of patients with sacral fractures were able to return to work and this probability increased by 40% among patients with crescent fractures (RR=1.4, p=.015). Conclusions. 1. Younger patients with crescent fractures tend to have better quality of life (higher EQ5D and QALYs) compared to those with LC sacral fractures. 2. Moreover, patients with LC sacral fractures have less chan­ce to return to their pre-injury level of work compared to those with crescent fractures.

Rotational Stability of Proximally Unlocked Retrograde Femoral Nail In Damage Control Surgery – Biomechanical Study

BACKGROUND: This biomechanical study was performed to look into the rotational stability of retrograde femoral intramedullary nail when it is used without proximal locking as a damage control device for management of femoral shaft fractures in emergency situations. This study compares this technique with the accepted methods for femoral shaft fixations in damage control surgeries. An alternative technique of using lateral compression screw to provide additional rotational stability is described.METHODS: Experiments were divided into four different sets. Distally locked retrograde nail was passed across the fracture without any proximal fixation in set 1, a compression screw passed from lateral cortex in set 2, a proximal locking screw fixation in set 3. In set 4, Saw bone was fixed with external fixator.The lateral compression screw group was further sub divided into three subgroups based on the amount of torque applied manually.The torsion test was applied to create an rotational displacement of 10 degrees and the maximum load required to create the rotational displacement was noted.RESULTS: Application of a compression screw improved the rotational stability significantly in comparison to no proximal locking. In the subgroup III of lateral compression screw application, the rotational stability was found to be equivalent to stability achieved with Nail with proximal locking and was found to be greater in comparison to external fixator application.CONCLUSION: This study shows that the addition of a lateral compression screw significantly improves rotational stability and has the potential to be used in emergency lifesaving procedures.

Stability of a nonlinear thermoelastic plate

The problem of loss of stability of a circular plate under lateral compression in an inhomogeneous temperature field is considered. The theory of superposition of a small deformation on a finite one is used. A similar approach to the study of the equilibrium bifurcation of nonlinear thermoelastic bodies was used in the following works.

The morphological mapping of lateral compression type 1 pelvic fracture and pelvic ring stability classification: a finite element analysis

Purpose This finite element analysis assessed lateral compression (LC-1) fracture stability using machine learning for morphological mapping and classification of pelvic ring stability. Methods Computed tomography (CT) files of LC-1 pelvic fractures were collected. After morphological mapping and producing matrix data, we used K-means clustering in unsupervised machine learning to classify the fractures. Based on these subtypes, we manually added fracture lines in ANSYS software. Finally, we performed a finite element analysis of a normal pelvis and eight fracture subtypes based on von Mises stress and total deformation changes. Results A total of 218 consecutive cases were analyzed. According to the three main factors—zone of sacral injury and completion, pubic ramus injury side, and the sagittal rotation of the injured hemipelvis—the LC-1 injuries were classified into eight subtypes (I–VIII). No significant differences in stress or deformation were observed between unilateral and bilateral public ramus fractures. Subtypes VI and VIII showed the maximum stress while subtypes V–VIII showed the maximum deformation in the total pelvis and sacrum. The subtypes did not differ in superior public ramus deformation. Conclusions Complete fracture of sacrum zones 2/3 may be a feature of unstable LC-1 fractures. Surgeons should give surgical strategies for subtypes V–VIII.

Revisiting Nonoperative Treatment of Lateral Compression Pelvic Fractures. Analysis of Rehabilitation and Radiologic Outcomes in a Historical Cohort Using Today's AO Stability Criteria.

Background: Type I lateral compression pelvic fractures (LC-I) have historically been treated conservatively. Inferior outcomes in a distinctive subset of these injuries has been reported, therefore their management has shifted towards surgery. Revisiting historical series of LC-I allows us to determine whether non-operative management of these unstable patterns result in poorer outcomes. The objective was to evaluate the differences in the rehabilitation progress, fracture consolidation and displacement in non-operatively treated LC-I fractures that would be considered unstable using today´s AO criteria.Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of conservatively treated LC-I injuries in a single level I trauma center, between June 2010 and June 2014. Patients were distributed in Stable (Group A) and unstable (Group B) groups according to 2018 AO classification. Time to walk independently (TWI), time to return to work (TRW), fracture consolidation and displacement were analyzed. Results: 34 patients, mean aged 45.5 ±14.5 years, were included. Mean TWI in groups A and B were 71.2 ±31.9 and 105.9 ±50.9 days (p=0.027). Mean TRW was 106 ±51.3 and 157 ±84 days in Groups A and B respectively (p=0.038). A difference in mean TWI and TRW of 34.7 and 51.3 days between groups was observed. No significant differences in fracture consolidation or displacement were observed.Conclusion: Unstable fractures presented significantly longer TWI and TRW. The revised AO classification contributes in the identification of fracture patterns that correlate with prolonged rehabilitation in which additional treatment strategies might be considered.