Characterization of patients with partially stable pelvic fractures treated with external fixation

Authors

Keywords:

partially stable pelvic fracture, external fixator, orthopedics

Abstract

Introduction: Type B injuries are vertically stable but unstable in rotation. At General Calixto García University Hospital, there is no evidence of research on the evolution of patients with partially stable pelvic fractures treated with external fixation, at least in recent years.

Objective: To characterize patients with partially stable pelvic fractures treated with external fixation.

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted at General Calixto García University Hospital from 2022 to 2024. The study population consisted of 94 patients with partially stable pelvic fractures treated with external fixation. The variables analyzed were sex, age, fracture type, complications, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, length of stay, and discharge status. Absolute and relative frequency distributions were calculated for statistical analysis.

Results: The most represented age group was 30 to 39 years. Males predominated, and compression fractures were the most common type of fracture. Immediate and delayed complications were the most frequent, with femur and thoracic fractures being the most common associated injuries, mostly resulting from motorcycle and automobile accidents. 68.5 % of patients were hospitalized for 8 to 14 days. 74.0 % were discharged alive.

Conclusions: Males of working age predominated, with fractures resulting from traffic accidents. Patient outcomes were satisfactory, despite the presence of immediate complications and a moderate length of stay.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Durán FJ, Pérez A, Lombardo M, Delgado B, Peña A, Queipo A. Mejora significativa de la estabilidad a carga axial con el fijador externo pélvico pretensado: análisis biomecánico en un modelo con lesión Tile tipo C. Rev Esp Cir Ortop Traumatol. 2023;67(2):125-33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.recot.2022.08.005

2. Tripathi S, Nishida N, Soehnlen S, Kelkar A, Kumaran Y, Seki T, et al. Pelvic ring fractures: a biomechanical comparison of sacral and lumbopelvic fixation techniques. Bioeng. 2024;11(4):348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11040348

3. Dreizin D, Goldmann F, LeBedis C, Boscak A, Dattwyler M, Bodanapally U, et al. An automated deep learning method for tile AO/OTA pelvic fracture severity grading from trauma whole-Body CT. J Digit Imaging. 2021;34(1):53-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-020-00399-x

4. Wang SH, Fu CY, Bajani F, Bokhari M, Mis J, Poulakidas S, et al. Accuracy of the WSES classification system for pelvic ring disruptions: an international validation study. World J Emerg Surg. 2021;16(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-021-00399-4

5. Papakostidis KCG, Giannoudis PV. Evolution of treatment of fragility fractures of the pelvic ring. An update. Injury. 2025;56(2):112145. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2025.112145

6. Ramadana Y, Chilmi MZ. Epidemiology of pelvic fracture in the emergency room at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital between 2016-2018. Qanun Medika. 2022;6(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.30651/jqm.v6i1.7519

7. Ramser M, Cadosch D, Vach W, Strub N, Saxer F, Eckardt H. Focusing on individual morphological fracture characteristics of pelvic ring fractures in elderly patients can support clinical decision making. BMC Geriatr. 2022;22(1):543. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03222-0

8. Herdt CL, Loggers SAI, de Embden DV, Bijlsma T, Joosse P, Ponsen KJ. Clinically relevant bleeding risk in low-energy fragility fractures of the pelvis in elderly patients. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2024;50(4):1585-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-024-02492-0

9. Ando J, Takahashi T, Ae R, Matsumura T, Sasao W, Abe M, et al. Epidemiology of fragility fracture of the pelvic ring: a regional population-based study in Northern Japan. Arch Osteoporos. 2023;18(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11657-023-01342-7

10. Feryawan P, Ngurah IG. Current management of pelvic fracture. Int J Health Sci Res. 2024;14(8):262-79. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20240831

11. Barrientos-Mendoza C, Brañes J, Wulf R, Kremer A, Barahona M, León S. The role of anterior supra-acetabular external fixator as definitive treatment for anterior ring fixation in unstable pelvic fractures. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2022;48(5):3737-46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-021-01711-2

12. Kelliher J, Rahmani G, Carey J, Bergin D. Severe atypical iliac wing fracture associated with long-term bisphosphonate use. Skelet Radiol. 2024;54(3):627-31. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-024-04738-9

13. Puchwein P, Sandersjöö G, Lindahl J, Eibinger N. Combined pelvic ring and acetabular fractures - strategies and sequence of surgery. State of the art. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2024;144(10):4577-86. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-024-05555-4

14. Djaja YP, Silitonga J, Dilogo IH, Mauffrey OJ. The management of pelvic ring fractures in low-resource environments: review. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2023;33(3):515-23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-022-03420-x

15. Sterneder M, Lang P, Riesner HJ, Hackenbroch C, Friemert B, Palm HG. Insufficiency fractures vs. low-energy pelvic ring fractures - epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of fragility fractures of the pelvic ring. Z Orthop Unfall. 2022;160(5):497-506. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1394-6502

16. Gewiess J, Albers CE, Keel MJB, Frihagen F, Rommens PM, Bastian JD. Chronic pelvic insufficiency fractures and their treatment. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2024;145(1):76. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-024-05717-4

17. Lang P, Sterneder M, Riesner HJ, Hackenbroch C, Friemert B, Palm HG. Fragility fractures of the pelvic ring - does the evidence of oedema lead us to more surgeries? Z Orthop Unfall. 2021;159(5):503-12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1192-7583

18. Mennen AHM, Blokland AS, Maas M, van Embden D. Imaging of pelvic ring fractures in older adults and its clinical implications-a systematic review. Osteoporos Int. 2023;34(9):1549-59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-023-06812-9

19. Roszman AD, John DQ, Patch DA, Spitler CA, Johnson JP. Management of open pelvic ring injuries. Injury. 2023;54(4):1041-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2023.02.006

20. Tripathi S, Nishida N, Soehnlen S, Kelkar A, Kumaran Y, Seki T, et al. Pelvic ring fractures: a biomechanical comparison of sacral and lumbopelvic fixation techniques. Bioeng (Basel). 2024;11(4):348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11040348

21. Mostert CQ, Timmer RA, Krijnen P, Meylearts SAG, Schipper IB. Rates and risk factors of complications associated with operative treatment of pelvic fractures. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2023;33(5):1973-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-022-03375-z

22. Sanzana S, Melo A, Ojeda S, Pineda S, Pérez C, Inostroza L. La fijación externa en el tratamiento de urgencia de las fracturas inestables de pelvis. Rev chil. 2014 [acceso 02/06/2025];56(6):585-92. Disponible en: https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/portal/resource/e/lil-425118

23. Bello A, Caloca M, Muciño M, Vives H. Fijación externa inmediata en fracturas del anillo pélvico. Acta Ortop Mex. 2004 [acceso 02/06/2025];18(4):140-4. Disponible en: https://www.medigraphic.com/pdfs/ortope/or-2004/or044c.pdf

24. Elamin MH, Elkaramany I, Salman LA, Albasha A, Parambathkandi A, Elramadi A, et al. The epidemiology of pelvic ring fractures in Qatar. Int Orthop. 2024;48(4):1097-103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-024-06103-w

25. García EF, Beltrán OR. Tratamiento quirúrgico de las lesiones inestables de la pelvis en el paciente polifracturado. Rev Mex Ortop Traum. 1992 [acceso 02/06/2025];6(4):126-30. Disponible en: https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/portal/resource/pt/lil-117888

26. Nájera MA, Flores VM, Bárcena LR. Criterios de tratamiento conservador vs quirúrgico en las lesiones del anillo pélvico. Rev Mex Ortop Traum. 1995 [acceso 02/06/2025];9(6):329-36. Disponible en: https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/portal/resource/pt/lil-180621

27. Andresen JR, Radmer S, Andresen R, Prokop A, Schröder G, Nissen U, et al. Comparative outcome of different treatment options for fragility fractures of the sacrum. BMC Musculosk Disord. 2022;23(1):1106. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-022-06039-5

28. Ross H, Stine S, Blue K, Wolterink TD, Vaidya R. Systematic review of combined pelvic ring and acetabular injuries: what do we know from the literature? Cureus. 2023;15(7):e41843. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.41843

Published

2026-01-21

How to Cite

1.
García Duharte D, Massip Nicot J, Valdez Sánchez V, Otero Molina M di C. Characterization of patients with partially stable pelvic fractures treated with external fixation. Revista Cubana de Ortopedia y Traumatologí­a [Internet]. 2026 Jan. 21 [cited 2026 Jan. 23];40. Available from: https://revortopedia.sld.cu/index.php/revortopedia/article/view/1085

Issue

Section

Artículos originales