Midline sagittal sacral fractures in anterior-posterior compression pelvic ring injuries

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcome of an uncommon variant of the anterior-posterior compression pelvic injury, in which the posterior ring injury is a midline sagittal sacral fracture extending into the spinal canal.

DESIGN

Prospective, consecutive series. SETTING Two regional trauma centers.

PATIENTS

A consecutive series of 10 patients with rotationally displaced, vertically stable anterior-posterior compression pelvic ring fractures (OTA type 61-B1) in which the posterior ring injury is a midline sagittally oriented sacral fracture involving the spinal canal (Denis zone III). This injury pattern comprised 0.6% of pelvic fractures and 1.4% of sacral fractures treated at these two institutions during a 10-year period.

INTERVENTION

Patients were treated according to the same principles used in more commonly seen types of anterior-posterior compression pelvic ring injuries. Nine patients were treated with reduction and anterior pelvic stabilization at an average of 5 days after injury, 8 of whom were treated with open reduction and internal fixation and 1 with external fixation. No posterior pelvic fixation was used. One patient with nondisplaced bilateral pubic ramus fractures was treated nonoperatively. Immediate weight bearing was allowed as tolerated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Prospectively collected clinical follow-up data emphasized a detailed neurologic examination, whereas radiographic evaluation involved anteroposterior, inlet, and outlet plain radiographic views of the pelvis.

RESULTS

An anatomical or near-anatomical reduction of the pelvis was achieved and maintained in all patients. Fractures healed at an average of 10 weeks. At an average follow-up of 31 months (range 20-46 months), there were no objective neurologic deficits that could be attributed to sacral root injury and no significant residual pain or gait disturbance related to the pelvic fracture. Loss of bowel or bladder function, loss of perianal sensation or sphincter tone, and lumbosacral radicular pain or sensorimotor deficit were specifically absent in all patients. Three patients, however, complained of sexual dysfunction at final follow-up. None of these patients had clinical evidence of sacral root/plexus injury secondary to the fracture. One additional patient, who sustained a urethral tear, required a chronic suprapubic catheter because of stricture. Six patients, one of whom had needed repair of a retroperitoneal bladder tear, had no urogenital sequelae.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Patients who sustain sagittally oriented midline fractures of the sacrum that extend into the spinal canal (Denis zone III) as part of displaced, vertically stable anterior-posterior compression pelvic injuries, have a low incidence of neurologic deficit attributable to sacral root or plexus injury. This is in contrast to the high rate of neurologic deficit (>50%) otherwise reported in zone III sacral fractures, particularly in those associated with a displaced transverse component. In the midline sagittal fracture variant, simultaneous lateral displacement of both bony and neural elements through the midline may protect the sacral roots and plexi from significant traction or shear injury by maintaining the spatial orientation between the sacral foramina and sciatic notch. Long-term sequelae were related to urogenital complaints rather than to musculoskeletal problems, as 4 of the 10 patients in this series had either sexual or urologic dysfunction.

Examination of the variations of lateral femoral cutaneous nerves: report of two cases

The origins, courses and relations of lateral femoral cutaneous nerves (LFCNs) were examined bilaterally in 28 cadavers, and the variations were observed in two. On the right side of one cadaver, the ventral rami of the first and second lumbar spinal nerves were united and then this nerve was divided into four branches. From medial to lateral, these branches were the obturator nerve, the femoral nerve, the medially located LFCN and the laterally located LFCN. On the left side of another cadaver, there were three LFCNs. All of these nerves pierced the psoas major muscle anterolaterally. Two of these nerves, which pierced the psoas major muscle more proximally than the third, united with each other by a communicating branch anterior to the iliacus muscle. These types of variations are very important, especially in the presence of paresthesias or pain in the anterior thigh, lateral thigh and gluteal region. In these cases, surgeons must always remember the possible variations of the LFCN during surgical procedures in order to prevent injury and the occurrence of meralgia paresthetica.

Effects of electroacupuncture on the mechanical allodynia in the rat model of neuropathic pain

The analgesic effects of acupuncture on the mechanical allodynia in the rat model of neuropathic pain have not yet been studied. The aim of the present study is: first, to determine if electroacupuncture (EA) or morphine attenuates the mechanical allodynia; and secondly, to examine if the EA effect may be mediated by endogenous opioids. To produce neuropathic pain, the right superior caudal trunk was resected between the S3 and S4 spinal nerves. Twenty-one days after the neuropathic surgery, low frequency EA stimulation (2 Hz, 0.3 ms, 0.07 mA) delivered to Houxi (S13) for 30 min relieved significantly the signs of mechanical allodynia. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) morphine (0.5 or 1.5 mg/kg) also relieved the signs of mechanical allodynia in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the antiallodynic effect of Houxi EA was blocked by pretreatment with naloxone (2 mg/kg, i.p.). However, combined application of EA and morphine did not show an obvious synergistic effect. These results suggest that low frequency EA or morphine can relieve the mechanical allodynia signs and the EA effect can be mediated by endogenous opioid systems.

Plexus avulsion and spinal cord injury increase the serum concentration of S-100 protein: an experimental study in rats

The possibility of using the presence of the glial-cell-derived protein S-100 in serum as a marker for neuronal damage caused by spinal cord injury and plexus avulsion injury was investigated in 144 adult rats. After a spinal cord injury had been induced at the thoracic level or a plexus avulsion injury at the lumbar level, blood samples were taken and analysed for S-100 protein by a monoclonal two-site immunoluminometric assay. The two types of neurotrauma changed the kinetics of serum S-100 in different ways. After spinal cord injury it rapidly increased and within 72 hours had reached a concentration about 5 times that of the control animals. Three peak concentrations occurred at 3, 12, and 72 hours, respectively, and differed significantly from those of the control group (p < 0.05). After six days the values had returned to normal. After lumbar plexus injury alone there was no significant increase in the concentration of S-100. These results suggest that the concentration of S-100 protein in serum may be used as an early diagnostic tool for detecting neuronal damage caused by spinal cord injury or plexus avulsion associated with damage to the root entry zone.

Lumbosacral plexopathy in gunshot wounds and motor vehicle accidents: comparison of electrophysiologic findings

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the differences between injuries to the lumbosacral (LS) plexus caused by gunshot wounds (GSW) and motor vehicle crashes (MVC) with regard to the location and extent of involvement.

DESIGN

A retrospective review of electrophysiologic data from an electromyography laboratory of a county hospital. Nineteen patients with GSW and ten patients with MVC diagnosed by electromyography with an LS plexopathy were included in the study. Injuries were categorized by the number of anatomic quadrants of the LS plexus: upper anterior, upper posterior, lower anterior, and lower posterior. Comparison of upper vs. lower portions and bilaterality of LS plexus involvement was also made. Statistical analyses were performed with two-tailed Fisher's exact and general association tests.

RESULTS

Lower portions of the plexus were involved more frequently in patients with MVC compared those observed in patients with GSW. Upper portions of the LS plexus were more involved compared with the lower portions in patients with GSW injuries. More sections of the plexus were involved in patients with MVC compared with those in patients with GSW.

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with patients with MVC, patients with GSW had a greater chance of involvement of the upper portion of the plexus. The reverse was true for the lower portion. Hopefully this information will aid the electromyographer and rehabilitation team in the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic plexopathies caused by different etiologies.

Peripheral nerve injuries in athletes: a case series of over 200 injuries

We retrospectively reviewed electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies performed on 346 athletes with sports injuries who were referred to our EDX laboratory from 1974 to 1997. These injuries included 216 nerve root, plexus, or peripheral nerve injuries sustained by 180 of the athletes. Eighty-six percent of the injuries were to the upper extremity. Athletes with nerve fiber injuries participated in 27 different sports, but over one third of injuries were sustained playing football. The most common symptomatic upper extremity injury was the "burner" (N=40). Forty-three athletes had median neuropathies, many of which were asymptomatic cases of carpal tunnel syndrome. Cervical radiculopathies (N=19) and axillary (N=22), ulnar (N=19), and suprascapular (N=14) mononeuropathies were also prevalent. The most common lower extremity injuries were peroneal neuropathies (N=17) and lumbosacral radiculopathies (N=7). This is the largest reported series of sports-related nerve injuries. The mechanisms of the most common nerve injuries are discussed.

Lumbosacral plexopathy in pelvic trauma

We reviewed the electrophysiologic data and the etiology of lumbosacral plexopathy in 22 consecutive patients with pelvic trauma referred for electromyography (EMG). Most (68%) patients had sacral fractures or sacroiliac joint separation, 14% had acetabular fractures, and 9% had femoral fractures. Lumbosacral plexopathy was significantly more common (P = 0.0026) among patients with sacral fractures (incidence of 2.03%) than among the entire population of patients with pelvic and acetabular fractures (overall incidence 0. 7%). Patients with acetabular and femoral fractures may have suffered injury to multiple proximal nerves originating from the plexus rather than injury to the plexus, as confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) neurogram in select cases.

Meralgia paresthetica is related to degenerative pubic symphysis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between meralgia paresthetica, a mononeuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve that often starts in middle age, and radiological degeneration of the pubic symphysis.

METHODS

A case-control study of patients aged 40 years and older with meralgia paresthetica who underwent surgical release of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve; cases were included only when a pelvic radiograph was available. The control group was from a population study including persons aged 55 years and older and was matched to cases (4 controls per case) for sex and age as far as possible. We checked patient records from general practice to ensure control subjects had no symptoms of meralgia paresthetica during the previous 10 years. Radiological degeneration of the pubic symphysis was defined as present when 2 of 3 independent observers noted degeneration on the radiograph.

RESULTS

Mantel-Haenszel procedure (stratified for age group and radiological osteoarthritis of the hip) showed a positive relationship (p = 0.004, OR = 4.38) between radiological degenerative pubic symphysis and meralgia paresthetica. In a separate analysis limited to men we also found this positive relationship.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed a positive relationship between radiological degeneration of the pubic symphysis and meralgia paresthetica.

Transverse subgluteal-ilioinguinal approach to the acetabulum

An approach to the acetabulum is described. This approach consists of an anterior and a posterior part. The anterior part is nearly identical with the ilioinguinal approach. The posterior part resembles Kocher's (Gibson, J Bone Joint Surg 1950;32B:183-186) original description in that the plane of dissection passes between the motor territories of the superior gluteal nerve anterolaterally and the inferior gluteal nerve posteromedially. Two modifications have been introduced, however. First, the incision is a transverse one; superior and inferior fasciocutaneous flaps are elevated. Second, the gluteus maximus is not only disinserted from the fascia lata and the gluteal tuberosity at the upper end of the femur but from the iliac crest as well. After ligating the superficial branch of the superior gluteal artery to the gluteus maximus, the muscle itself is reflected posteromedially. We have used this approach to explore the lumbosacral plexus and its branches, particularly the sciatic nerve at the greater sciatic notch. Due to the excellent exposure of both columns of the acetabulm, this approach may be equally used in fractures of the acetabulum.

Injuries to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve during spine surgery

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective study to locate patients with injured lateral femoral cutaneous nerve after elective spine surgery.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of injury of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and to identify the cause of injury according to the position of the patients at surgery and the surgical approach.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Injuries to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, also known as meralgia paresthetica, may cause pain and therefore result in restriction of activity. Compression of the nerve by disc hernia, retroperitoneal tumors, and external pressure around the anterior superior iliac spine are among the more common causes.

METHODS

One hundred five patients admitted for elective spine procedures were grouped according to position on the operating table and surgical approach. All patients were examined before and after surgery for signs of injury to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, and those found injured were followed up for 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS

Injury to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve was found in 21 (20%) patients. In 6 of them, all of whom underwent surgery on the Hall-Relton frame, the injury was bilateral. In 7 patients the injury was not associated with discomfort. In addition to injury by external pressure at the anterior superior iliac spine from the Hall-Relton frame, the nerve was also injured at the retroperitoneum by hematoma or traction and at the anterior iliac crest when bone was harvested. In 89% of the patients, the nerve completely recovered within 3 months of surgery. Two patients still had pain 1 year after surgery and hypoesthesia of the anterolateral thigh.

CONCLUSION

Injuries to the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve during spine surgery are frequent, and patients should be informed of the possible risk. It usually has a benign course, but some preventive steps should be taken: keep posterior to the anterior superior iliac spine and minimize retraction when harvesting a bone graft, pad the posts of the Hall-Relton frame over the anterior superior iliac crest, and avoid traction on the psoas muscle during the retroperitoneal dissection.

[Surgical anatomy of pelvic nerves]

A good knowledge of the anatomy of the mesorectum and pelvic autonomic nerves allows the colorectal surgeon to reconcile both oncologic and functional results in rectal cancer excision. The author describes the anatomy of the systemic and autonomic pelvic nerves and describes techniques designed to avoid nerve damage during rectal cancer excision.

Anatomy and evaluation of the lumbosacral plexus

Although not as common as brachial plexopathies, lumbosacral plexopathies do occasionally occur. Most plexopathies are due to masses that compress or infiltrate the pelvis, traction on the plexus itself from dislocation of the hemipelvis, or ischemia. Diagnosis and evaluation of the lumbosacral plexus may be made using electrodiagnostic testing, MR imaging, or CT scans, in addition to the patient's history, thorough physical examination, and knowledge of the anatomy of the plexus and its associated anatomical structures.

Lumbosacral nerve root avulsion

Lumbosacral nerve root avulsion is a rare clinical entity. Since the first description in 1955, only 35 cases have been reported. It is often associated with pelvic fractures and may be missed in the initial clinical examination as these patients usually present with multiple injuries. We present three such cases with clinical and radiological findings. These patients were involved in road traffic accidents. Two had fractures of the sacroiliac joint with diastasis of the symphysis pubis (Tile type C 1.2) and one had fractures of the public rami (Tile type B 2.1). All three had various degrees of sensory and motor deficit of the lower limbs. Lumbar myelogram shows characteristic pseudomeningoceles in the affected lumboscral region. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides an additional non-invasive modality to diagnose this condition.

[A propos of an unusual case of lumbar-pelvic dislocation in a suicidal jumper]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

We report a particular case of lombo-pelvic dislocation in a suicidal jumper, characterized by a distal sacral fracture associated with bilateral fractures of both iliac wings. To our knowledge, it has yet not been described.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The patient was a 27 years old individual. On admission, he sustained the following injuries: hemodynamic shock with intraperitoneal bleeding due to disruption of the triangular ligament of the liver, which resolved with blood transfusions and did not require surgical treatment pelvic fractures initially identified as transverse fractures of both iliac wings, with bilateral avulsions of sciatic spines a compression fracture of the first lumbar vertebra without neurologic complication. In the intensive care unit, evolution was favorable. However, an incomplete cauda equina syndrome was noticed: the anal sphincter was flacid but perianal sensation to pinprick was conserved. An electromyogram showed that the latence of perineal reflexes was increased. The fracture and its displacement were recognized secondarily. A pelvic C.T. exhibited an increases in the antero-posterior dimension of the pelvic ring, due to a distal-displaced transverse sacral fracture. The proximal fragment of the sacrum remained attached to the iliac wing since sacro-iliac joints were intact, iliac wings had tilted forward, and the distal tip of the proximal sacral fragment was driven backward and inferiorly.

RESULTS

The patient was maintained in the supine position during 3 months. He then rapidly recovered normal function of his lower limbs. He had normal gait patterns and pelvic static. He did not complain of any pain. Finally, the neurological deficit disappeared and he regained full sexual function and complete control of micturition.

DISCUSSION

We think that this fracture should be considered as a variety of suicidal jumper's fracture described by Roy Camille et al. It has the same displacement as type 2 fracture in Roy Camille classification. In the emergency room, diagnosis is difficult, based on usual AP pelvic roentgenograms. A bilateral fracture of iliac wings in a suicidal jumper, especially if associated with bilateral sciatic spine avulsions, is an indication to a pelvic C.T.. A neurological perineal deficit should be ruled out. In our case, the perineal deficit can be attributed to the stretching of sacral roots resulting from a posterior displacement of the sacrum. The favorable evolution suggests that surgery may be not required, and there is no evidence in the literature that it would help neurological recovery. In distal fractures, the sacral canal is not narrowed, and a sacral laminectomy appears therefore not indicated.

CONCLUSION

We have described a particular type of transverse fracture of the pelvis, which, in our mind, should be put in the same category as type 2 transverse fractures of the sacrum described by Roy Camille and al, in the suicidal jumper. Since there is no compression of sacral roots into the sacral canal, prolonged bedrest is likely to be the better treatment.

[Anal sphincter electromyography, bulbocavernosus reflex and pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials in diagnosis of neurogenic lumbosacral lesions with disorders of bladder and large intestine emptying and erectile dysfunction]

The diagnostic value of anal sphincter electromyography (EMG), electrical bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) and pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) was studied in 16 male patients with disturbances of bladder function or defecation or with erectile dysfunction (ED) of at least several weeks' duration. All 16 patients had proven neurogenic disorders in the lumbosacral region. Eleven presented with bladder dysfunction, four with defecation problems, and nine with ED (some had more than one symptom). Fifteen patients had a pathological sphincter EMG, 14 patients a pathological BCR, and six patients a pathological pudendal SEP. Thus, the sphincter EMG was the most sensitive technique in the diagnosis of chronic pudendal lesions. However, pure afferent lesions cannot be detected by the sphincter EMG. In this case, the BCR, using unilateral stimulation of the dorsal nerves of the penis, provides the opportunity to distinguish between afferent and efferent lesions of the sacral reflex arc.

[Damage to the lumbosacral plexus in psoas hitch operation]

The psoas hitch operation is used for the management of ureteral disease requiring replacement of varying lengths of the ureter. During this procedure the bladder is fixed to the psoas by 2 or 3 hitches of nonresorbable suture. Astonishingly, peripheral nerve injury to the lumbosacral plexus has not yet been described as a complication even though it has been seen when the psoas muscle was hitched unintentionally during abdominal surgery. Within 14 days we saw 2 patients with damage to parts of the lumbosacral plexus following a psoas hitch. In one case, hypesthesia and exercise-related pain in the areas supplied by the genitofemoral, the ilioinguinal and femoral nerve persisted, suggesting inclusion of at least parts of those nerves in the hitch. Initial paresis of hip flexion did not persist and the second patient recovered without sequelae. According to the literature this kind of complication does not occur if visible nerves are avoided and stitches an used that are no deeper than 3 mm into the psoas muscle.

[Maternal paralysis of obstetrical origin. Two case reports]

We report two cases of maternal obstetrical paralysis by injuries to the sacral plexus (lumbosacral trunk). This nervous lesion is rare and occurs more often in young small primigravidae, carrying a large fetus, during a prolonged labor and a delivery requiring midforceps. The symptoms appear usually a few hours after delivery: paresthesias of the leg and the foot as well as weakness and possible footdrop (the paralysis may be mild or severe). The different mechanisms involved are inspected. The prognosis of this lesion is good, the patients recover usually within a period of three months. The treatment appears to be physiotherapy.

Posttraumatic childhood lumbosacral plexus neuropathy

A 13-month-old male received crush injury to the abdomen resulting in paraparesis due to lumbosacral plexus neuropathy. The child was monitored with serial clinical examinations and electromyography/nerve conduction studies. He had complete clinical recovery. Lumbosacral plexus neuropathy is unusual in childhood and has not been previously reported as a result of abdominal trauma. This patient is presented with details of the clinical course, electrodiagnostic studies, discussion, and literature review.

Entrapment neuropathy in laparoscopic herniorrhaphy

In laparoscopic hernia repairs, the staples used to affix prosthetic mesh have resulted in entrapment neuropathies. This paper describes the diagnosis and treatment of nine cases of entrapment neuropathy. Injuries to all the branches of the lumbar plexus, with the exception of the obdurator nerve, have been treated. Generally, the entrapments are self-limiting, but chronic disability requiring surgical intervention can occur. Staple removal and neurolysis controlled the severe, chronic pain of one femoral nerve entrapment. A thorough understanding of the anatomy of these nerves can prevent stapling in the areas of danger and thus greatly reduce the incidence of this complication.

[Follow-up and prognosis of neurologic sequelae of pelvic ring fractures with involvement of the sacrum and/or the iliosacral joint]

The extent of neurological lesions following an injury of the pelvic ring is often not initially recognized, as interest is then focused on the treatment of the pelvic ring fracture. Once the fracture has healed, the patient suffers from the sequelae of the neurological injury. Our series of 323 pelvic ring injuries includes 161 sacral fractures and 12 complete disruptions of the sacroiliac joint. Twenty-three patients sustained an injury of the lumbosacral plexus, and 20 patients were examined retrospectively. The different parts of the lumbosacral plexus showed variable recovery potential. An important or complete recovery was noted in 8 of 9 patients suffering from a motor deficit of the lumbar plexus, the obturator nerve, the superior gluteal nerve or the inferior gluteal nerve. Four out of 8 patients with a motor deficit of the sacral plexus had an important or complete improvement. In contrast to these results was the poor recovery of lesions of the lumbosacral trunk. Eight out of 11 patients showed no or only minor recovery, although the pelvic ring was stabilized by operative means in 9 patients. In 2 patients the lumbosacral trunk was directly decompressed by a dorsal approach. In both cases the recovery was complete. In 6 patients the sphincter function was damaged. Recovery was dependent on the localization of the sacral fracture. If the fracture traversed the sacral canal, no neurological improvement was noted.

Pudendal nerve palsy induced by fracture table

There are 23 cases in the literature of fracture table-induced pudendal nerve palsy. The majority of these patients had full sensory return; however, return of sexual function was unpredictable. The relevant anatomy, etiology, and incidence of this complication are discussed, and suggestions are made for its prevention.