Post Post-Mobilization Films for LC1 Pelvic Ring Injuries: Follow up Stress Imaging Demonstrates Minimal Utility

Abstract

Objective: To assess the utility of outpatient postmobilization radiographs in the nonoperative treatment of lateral compression type I (LC1) (OTA/AO 61-B1) pelvic ring injuries. Design: Retrospective series. Setting: Academic, Level 1 trauma center, 2008–2018. Patients/Participants: A series of 173 patients with nonoperatively treated LC1 pelvic ring injuries was identified. Of these, 139 received a complete set of outpatient pelvic radiographs with which to assess displacement. Intervention: Outpatient pelvic radiographs to assess additional fracture displacement and potential need for surgical intervention. Main Outcome Measurements: Rate of conversion to late operative intervention based on radiographic displacement. Results: No patient in this cohort received late operative intervention. A majority of the patients sustained incomplete sacral fractures (82.6%) and unilateral rami fractures (75.1%), and 92.8% demonstrated less than 10 mm of displacement on their final radiographs. Conclusions: There is a low utility of repeat outpatient radiographs of stable, nonoperative LC1 pelvic ring injuries as they do not undergo late displacement. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.