[Conservative treatment of Malgaigne fracture in young female--case report]

Pelvic ring injuries usually result from high-energy trauma, and cranial and abdominal multiple injuries are frequently present. Malgaigne fracture is referred to pelvic ring disruption at two sites, and is often treated surgically for its instability. We present a case of nonoperative treatment of Malgaigne pelvic fracture.

A 17-year-old girl sustained a Malgaigne fracture falling off a horse. After ruling out urgent multiple trauma in local hospital, she was then transferred to Pediatric Orthopedic and Trauma Service at the Institute of Orthopedic Surgery "Banjica" Belgrade, with provisional cutaneous traction of 2 kg applied to her right leg. After the status evaluation, the supracondylar femoral traction was applied for three months, combined with pelvic cradle for first 73 days. Weight of traction was gradually adjusted according to x-ray check-up, ranging from 1-16 kg (1/4 of body weight). Antibiotic prophylaxis was administered for 10 days, and thromboprophylaxis for two months. After the removal of traction, physical therapy was applied and the patient achieved full weight bearing four months after the injury. Treatment outcome was a symmetric and stable pelvic ring, equal leg length, full range of motion in both hip joints and normal walking.

Traction therapy, combined with gravitational suspension in pelvic cradle, resulted in excellent clinical result. Although significantly longer and more loaded than usual, normal weight bearing and walking were promptly achieved using intensive physical therapy.