Abstract
Objective: The treatment of some pelvic injuries has evolved recently to include the use of a subcutaneous anterior pelvic fixator (INFIX). We present 8 cases of femoral nerve palsy in 6 patients after application of an INFIX to highlight this potentially devastating complication to pelvic surgeons using this technique and discuss how it might be avoided in the future. Design: Retrospective chart review. Case series. Setting: Five level 1 and 2 trauma centers, tertiary referral hospitals. Patients/Participants: Six patients with anterior pelvic ring injury treated with an INFIX who experienced 8 femoral nerve palsies (2 bilateral). Intervention: Removal of internal fixator, treatment for femoral nerve palsy. Main Outcome Measurements: Clinical and electromyographic evaluation of patients. Results: All 6 patients with a total of 8 femoral nerve palsies had their INFIX removed. Variable resolution of the nerve injuries was observed. Conclusions: Application of an INFIX for the treatment of pelvic ring injury carries a potentially devastating risk to the femoral nerve(s). Despite early implant removal after detection of nerve injury, some patients had residual quadriceps weakness, disturbance of the thigh's skin sensation, and/or gait disturbance attributable to femoral nerve palsy at the time of early final follow-up. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 138-143 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Journal of orthopaedic trauma |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 26 2015 |
Keywords
- anterior fixation
- anterior pelvis
- complication
- femoral nerve
- femoral nerve palsy
- internal fixator
- nerve palsy
- pelvic fixation
- pelvic fracture
- ramus fracture
- symphyseal disruption
- trauma
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery
- Orthopedics and Sports Medicine