title: Management outcomes in pubic diastasis: our experience with 19 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pubic diastasis, a result of high energy antero-posterior compression (APC) injury, has been managed based on the Young and Burguess classification system. The mode of fixation in APC II injury has, however, been a subject of controversy and some authors have proposed a need to address the issue of partial breach of the posterior pelvic ring elements in these injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included a total of 19 patients with pubic diastasis managed by us from May 2006 to December 2007. There was a single patient with type I APC injury who treated conservatively. Type II APC injuries (13 patients) were treated surgically with symphyseal plating using single anterior/superior plates or double perpendicularly placed plates. Type III injuries (5 patients) in addition underwent posterior fixation using plates or percutaneous sacro-iliac screws. The outcome was assessed clinically (Majeed score) and radiologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up was for 2.9 years (6 months to 4.5 years). Among the 13 patients with APC II injuries, the clinical scores were excellent in one (7.6%), good in 6 (46.15%), fair in 4 (30.76%) and poor in 2 (15.38%). Radiological scores were excellent in 2 (15.38%), good in 8 (61.53%), fair in 2 (15.38%) and poor in one patient (7.6%). Among the 5 patients with APC III injuries, there were 2 patients each with good (50%) and fair (50%) clinical scores while one patient was lost on long term follow up. The radiological outcomes were also similar in these. Complications included implant failure in 3 patients, postoperative infection in 2 patients, deep venous thrombosis in one patient and bladder herniation in one of the patients with implant failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is no observed dissimilarity in outcomes between isolated anterior and combined symphyseal (perpendicular) plating techniques in APC II injuries. Single anterior symphyseal plating along with posterior stabilisation provides a stable fixation in type III APC injuries. Limited dissection ensuring adequate intactness of rectus sheath is important to avoid long term post-operative complications.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Orthopaedics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Sector 12, Chandigarh-160 012, India.
authors.forename: Sameer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bali
authors.forename: Vibhu
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Dharm
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meena
authors.forename: Ramesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D046548:Pubic Symphysis Diastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D011859:Radiography; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome