Sacral fractures with neurological injury: is early decompression beneficial?

During a 6-year period, 177 patients with a displaced sacral fracture were treated at our level-one trauma centre. At the initial presentation, 13 patients demonstrated a neurological deficit as a result of their sacral fracture. Six patients underwent surgical decompression, and seven patients were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International orthopaedics 2004-08, Vol.28 (4), p.244-251
Main Authors: Zelle, B A, Gruen, G S, Hunt, T, Speth, S R
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Decompression, Surgical
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Original Paper
Radiography
Sacrum
Spinal Cord Compression - etiology
Spinal Cord Compression - surgery
Spinal Fractures - complications
Spinal Fractures - diagnostic imaging
Spinal Fractures - surgery
Statistics, Nonparametric
Treatment Outcome
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:During a 6-year period, 177 patients with a displaced sacral fracture were treated at our level-one trauma centre. At the initial presentation, 13 patients demonstrated a neurological deficit as a result of their sacral fracture. Six patients underwent surgical decompression, and seven patients were managed without surgical decompression. All patients were re-assessed at an average follow-up of 27.1 (range 12-84) months using the modified SOFCOT Index and the SF-36. Patients undergoing surgical decompression had a significantly better neurological improvement as measured by the modified SOFCOT Index (p=0.014). Moreover, patients undergoing surgical decompression had a significantly better physical function than the patients that were managed without surgical decompression, as measured by the SF-36 (p=0.044). We therefore believe that patients undergoing surgical decompression achieve better neurological improvement and better functional results.
ISSN:0341-2695
1432-5195
DOI:10.1007/s00264-004-0557-y