Combined peripartal pubic symphysis and sacroiliac joint separation

We present a case and provide an overview of the literature on rare pelvic girdle injury following spontaneous delivery with combined transsymphyseal and transiliosacral instability, its diagnosis and surgical treatment.

Injury of the pelvic girdle during childbirth is one of the rare obstetric complications. Due to its low prevalence, the standard treatment algorithm is not defined. We present the case of a 27-year-old primipara with a combined separation of the symphysis and sacroiliac joint after spontaneous childbirth, which did not become clinically apparent until several hours later. After the assessment of clinical findings and results of imaging examinations, we indicated the patient for surgical revision due to significant pain syndrome and movement restrictions. Under general anesthesia, we reduced symphysis in an open manner and fixed it with a pelvic plate. We also fixed the injured sacroiliac joint after a closed reduction with a percutaneously inserted iliosacral screw. On the second postoperative day, the patient was mobilized on crutches. On the fourth postoperative day, the patient was discharged from the hospital. The patient was followed up at regular intervals postoperatively. One year after the injury, the pelvic girdle is clinically stable and the patient has no complaints.

An injury of the pelvic girdle should be considered whenever postpartum patient complains of pain in the area of the symphysis or sacroiliacal joints after natural delivery. In such a case, after a basic imaging diagnosis, a consultation with a specialist with experience in the treatment of pelvic injuries is appropriate. When selecting the most appropriate surgical technique, the nature of injury itself and also early patient mobilisation to be able provide adequate care for her newborn, should be taken into account. Early surgical treatment using stable osteosynthesis helps to address this  requirement.