Research on pelvic fractures

On 25 November at 15:00 in an open meeting of the Medical Promotion Council of Rīga Stradiņš University which will take place in the Conference Hall of the RSU Medical Education Technology Centre (26A Anniņmuižas Blvd, Rīga), Andris Vikmanis will defend his doctoral thesis “Advantages of Anterior Retroperitoneal Approach in Osteosynthesis of Pelvic Fractures (Comparison of Two Methods)”.

Scientific and technical progress has conditioned the rise in the number of high energy traumas of the musculoskeletal system. The majority of pelvic fractures, i.e. approximately 75 %, are considered to be severe and critical musculoskeletal injuries. Pelvic fractures, intra-articular fractures (the break crosses into the surface of a joint) in particular, relatively often (~ 10 % cases) (7; 8) lead to permanent disability due to the development of posttraumatic osteoarthrosis in hip joints.

Therefore, new approaches of surgical treatment and its modifications are being sought. The research focused on an anterior retroperitoneal approach (10–15 cm long vertical incision below the belly button without cutting through the peritoneum and entry in the abdominal cavity) compared to an ilioinguinal surgical approach (surgical approach associated with semi-circular incision 25–30 cm in length along the upper part of the pelvic bone from the back to the front).

The goal of the research is to develop proposals for the rational use of an anterior retroperitoneal approach in patients with complex pelvic fractures based on clinical and radiological examinations, as well as to develop indications and an algorithm.

Conclusions: after carrying out the analysis of surgical indicators, surgical correction of postoperative radiological parameters, postoperative functional results in patients with complex pelvic fractures, it can be concluded that in cases of the anterior retroperitoneal approach the results are statistically significantly better than in cases of the ilioinguinal approach.

• See the summary of Mr Vikmanis' doctoral thesis (in English)