Immediate full weight bearing after pelvic percutaneous fixation by screw for simple acetabular and pelvic ring fractures in patients older than sixty five years.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to assess the walking and weight-bearing abilities of patients older than 65 years with a simple acetabular or pelvic ring fracture treated with pelvic percutaneous screwing (PPS).

METHODS

This study included 27 patients. This was a retrospective, single-centre observational study conducted in a level 1 trauma centre from September 2019 to April 2021. All patients older than 65 years who underwent PPS for an acetabular or pelvic ring fracture were included.

RESULTS

All patients were able to walk and bear weight at one day after PPS. The mean walking distance increased from 19.4 m the day after the operation to 59.8 m, 497.8 m, and 1402 m at discharge, three and six weeks after the operation, respectively. The average pain visual analog scale scores before and after the operation were 4.1 (range, 3.6-5.1; standard deviation [SD], 0.63) and 0.9 (range, 0.5-1.2; SD, 0.25), respectively (p < .0001). The average daily dose of paracetamol used before and after the operation was 2.2 (range, 1.7-3.1; SD, 0.59) g/d and 1.3 (range, 0.6-1.7; SD, 0.40) g/d, respectively (p = .0232). The average daily dose of morphine used before and after the operation was 5.7 (range, 4.7-6.7; SD, 0.76) mg/d and 1.6 (range, 0.5-2.9; SD, 1.09) mg/d, respectively (p = .0001).

CONCLUSION

All included patients were able to walk at one day after PPS. PPS was associated with reduced pain as well as a reduction in paracetamol and morphine use.