Long-term outcomes of conservatively treated paediatric pelvic fractures

The long-term orthopaedic, urologic, and psychiatric outcomes of patients treated non-operatively for unstable pelvic fractures were assessed. There were 55 males and 3 females with an average age of 7 (3-13). Eighty-one percent of the fractures were caused by motor vehicle accidents, and 68% by auto-pedestrian accidents. Thirty-four of the 58 fractures were type Tile type B and 24 were type C. Posterior urethral injury was determined in 41 patients, and head injury in 21. Three patients with type C injury died within the first 3 days. After an average follow-up period of 7.4 years of the patients with type B injuries, leg length discrepancy of 1cm was determined in two, and limited motion associated with open-knee wound in one, and low back pain in two. Of the patients with type C injuries, low back pain was found in four, gait abnormality in three, sacroiliac ankylosis in one, and symphyseal ossification in two. Urethral stricture was determined in 11 patients, urinary incontinence in 6 and erectile dysfunction in 6. A total of 31 patients were diagnosed with 41 psychiatric illnesses, including dysthymic disorder, social phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and major depression. No difference was found in the treatment outcomes of the two groups. From a holistic standpoint, long hospital stays and urologic complications are associated with serious psychological problems, and thus should be considered during selection of treatment modality.