Preliminary results of cannulated screw fixation for isolated pubic ramus fractures

Isolated pubic ramus fractures are common fractures in the elderly, and treatment is typically non-operative. Up to 35 % of patients have a prolonged hospital stay due to pain. A small number of these patients do not respond to standard (non-operative) treatment. We retrospectively reviewed six patients with isolated pubic ramus fractures and persistent pain who were treated with percutaneous retrograde pubic ramus screw fixation. The study group consisted of six women with an average age of 81 years (72-86 years). Patients with symptomatic posterior pelvic ring injuries were excluded. All patients showed improvement after surgery, with three patients pain free and three patients with reduced pain. The mean time spent in the hospital was 9 days (range 3-18 days). There were complications post-operatively: two patients had pneumonia, two with confusional states, and one patient had a urinary tract infection. Despite these events, which are associated with surgery in patients with comorbidites from advanced age, retrograde pubic ramus screw fixation is an effective treatment option for patients with persistent pain from isolated pubic fractures.