Transverse fracture-dislocation of the sacrum: a diagnostic pitfall and a surgical challenge

Acta chirurgica Belgica
M H Hessmann, P M Rommens

Abstract

Transverse fracture-dislocations of the sacrum are rare. Associated lesions of the lumbosacral spine as well as neurological injuries are common. Conventional radiographs of the pelvis often fail to clearly visualize the fracture. Delayed diagnosis increases the risk of progressive neurological disfunction. True lateral sacral views and CT-scans with 3-dimensional reconstructions are very helpful in establishing the full extent of the injury. These examinations should be considered in all patients with a history of high energy trauma and clinical signs indicating lumbosacral injury, such as severe low back pain and neurological disturbances of the lower extremities. The management of transverse sacral fracture-dislocations with or without associated neurological damage is controversial. Conservative treatment is associated with a high rate of persistent deformity and residual neurological dysfunction. Surgical management allows for anatomical fracture reduction, stable fixation and revision of the spinal canal and lumbosacral nerve roots. The dorsal approach is preferred. Two patients with transverse sacral fracture-dislocations and neurological disturbances are presented. One patient had an additional fracture-dislocation of t...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 15, 2007·European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society·George S SapkasPanayiotis J Papagelopoulos
May 29, 2014·Journal of Neurosurgery. Spine·Konstantinos A StarantzisMasood Shafafy
Dec 9, 2017·Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy : SRA·Yoshihiro KatsuuraWarren Gardner
Aug 8, 2006·Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma·Thomas A SchildhauerJens R Chapman
Dec 23, 2011·European Spine Journal : Official Publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society·M A KönigB M Boszczyk
Oct 1, 2011·Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques·Matthias Alexander KönigBronek Maximilian Boszczyk
Oct 6, 2010·Journal of Spinal Disorders & Techniques·Marc SabourinMarc-Antoine Rousseau
Mar 9, 2021·Injury·E Sevillano-PerezM Prado-Novoa

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Body dysmorphic disorder is an intense preoccupation with an imagined defect in ones physical appearance. It can be a severely impairing disorder and is common among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Discover the latest research on body dysmorphic disorder here.