title: The Effect of Implant Failure After Symphyseal Plating on Functional Outcome and General Health.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To relate the incidence of implant failure after internal anterior fixation of the pelvic ring to functional outcome and the health-related quality of life in patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective chart and radiographic review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level I Trauma center.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively identified all patients who were treated with symphyseal plating for traumatic symphyseal diastasis between January 2003 and December 2013. Patients were asked to complete 2 questionnaires, the SF-36 and the Majeed score. A retrospective chart and radiographic control review were performed on all patients. The following data were collected: demographic data and details regarding the pelvic surgery. Computed tomograms were used to determine fracture classification and quality of reduction. Conventional radiographic follow-up were used to detect implant failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 37 patients enrolled the study. Implant failure occurred in 11 (30%) patients resulting in the identification of 2 groups, "implant failure" (n = 11) and "intact implants" (n = 26). The baseline characteristics were equal in both groups. The analysis of the questionnaires revealed that the SF-36 score was not significantly different in any of the dimensions between the both groups. Patients in the implant failure group scored higher on all of the Majeed items, including the total Majeed score, but the difference did not reach statistical significance of P < 0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed comparable results regarding the general health measured by the SF-36 for both groups and higher Majeed scores for patients with implant failure compared with patients with intact implants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Trauma Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; and †Department of Orthopaedics, Sint Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frietman
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verbeek
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Biert
authors.forename: Jan-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Frölke
mesh_terms: D001860:Bone Plates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011475:Prosthesis Failure / Q000639:trends*; D011631:Pubic Symphysis / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012086:Reoperation / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome