Surgical management of transforaminal sacral fractures

Fourteen patients with transforaminal sacral fractures were treated with posterior iliosacral instrumentation. Patients were assessed in terms of surgical technique and functional results. A subjective functional scoring with a five-point scale was performed at the last follow-up. Activity pain, pain at rest, limping and patient satisfaction were evaluated. By considering symptom and satisfaction scores, subjective functional assessment revealed that ten patients had excellent results, two good and two moderate. There were no patients with poor functional outcome. The surgical technique is not a new concept. Combining sacral bar and pediculo-iliac fixation methods, provides vertical as well as horizontal stability and allows early weight bearing, the methods has many advantages. However, vertical and horizontal stabilities achieved by this technique may require further assessment with comparative biomechanical studies.