Operative treatment of a transverse fracture-dislocation at the S1-S2 level

The authors recently treated a multiply injured patient who sustained a rare fracture-dislocation at the S1-S2 level. The S1 vertebra was displaced forward into the pelvic cavity and was located just in front of the S2 vertebra. Because the patient also had extensive neurologic injury to the lumbar plexus and instability of the pelvic ring, operative treatment was deemed necessary. Surgery to stabilize the pelvis and decompress the lumbar plexus proved successful, and the patient experienced marked improvement in her postoperative neurologic function. Nonoperative treatment has traditionally been recommended for this injury, but advances in spinal surgery have made transverse sacral fractures more amenable to open reduction and fixation. Potential benefits of this operative treatment include relief of pressure from the lumbar plexus, a stable pelvis and facilitation of return of neurologic function.