Case report: The prone reduction of a sacroiliac disruption with a pelvic C-clamp

The pelvic C-clamp traditionally is reserved for the temporizing stabilization of posterior ring injuries and reportedly has assisted in closed reduction of sacroiliac diastases, for patients who are in the supine position. We report a patient with a severely displaced Zone II sacral fracture and associated acetabular fracture who initially underwent fixation of the acetabulum in the prone position. By using the pelvic C-clamp as a tool for successfully reducing the sacrum, definitive closed fixation of the pelvic wing subsequently was performed without having to reposition the patient. In this case report, we review the literature on this device and for alternative reduction maneuvers for disrupted sacral injuries. The C-clamp may be a useful adjunct in select cases to facilitate closed reduction of sacral or sacroiliac joint disruptions, as may particularly apply in cases of severe displacement or when a reduction is hampered by obesity.