title: Immediate percutaneous sacroiliac screw insertion for unstable pelvic fractures: is it safe enough?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the results of immediate and delayed percutaneous sacroiliac screws surgery for unstable pelvic fractures, regarding technical results and complication rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at the Soroka University Medical center, Beer Sheva, Israel, which is a level 1 trauma Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  108 patients with unstable pelvic injuries were operated by the orthopedic department at the Soroka University Medical Center between the years 1999-2010. A retrospective analysis found 50 patients with immediate surgery and 58 patients with delayed surgery. Preoperative and postoperative imaging were analyzed and data was collected regarding complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients were operated on by using the same technique-percutaneous fixation of sacroiliac joint with cannulated screws.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study's primary outcome measure was the safety and quality of the early operation in comparison with the late operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 156 sacroiliac screws were inserted. No differences were found between the immediate and delayed treatment groups regarding technical outcome measures (P value = 0.44) and complication rate (P value = 0.42).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study demonstrated that immediate percutaneous sacroiliac screw insertion for unstable pelvic fractures produced equally good technical results, in comparison with the conventional delayed operation, without additional complications.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, Soroka University Medical Center, p.o.b 651, 84101, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acker
authors.affiliation: Surgery Ward A, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel. zperry@bgu.ac.il.|Epidemiology Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel. zperry@bgu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Z H
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1131-5230
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, Soroka University Medical Center, p.o.b 651, 84101, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.affiliation: Trauma Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shaked
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, Soroka University Medical Center, p.o.b 651, 84101, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Korngreen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Early vs. late insertion; Pelvic fracture; Percutaneous; Sacroiliac screw