Osteoporotic pubic rami fracture: a benign injury?

• Published in: Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Medicas (Cordoba, Argentina) Vol. 75; no. 1; p. 12
• Main Authors: Angulo Tabernero, Marina, Fernández Letamendi, Teresa, Hidalgo Mendía, Begoña, Ungría Murillo, Julia, Gros Bañeres, Belen, Fernández Letamendi, Nieves, Peguero Bona, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Argentina 08-03-2018
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Comorbidity; Female; Humans; Male; Osteoporotic Fractures - complications; Osteoporotic Fractures - epidemiology; Osteoporotic Fractures - mortality; Pubic Bone - injuries; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sex Distribution; Sex Factors; Spain - epidemiology; osteoporotic rami fracture; elderly; morbility; osteoporotic fracture
• ISSN: 1853-0605

We analized patients treated for osteoporotic rami fractures in our hospital.
We examined the records of patients presenting to the emergency department with osteoporotic low-impact rami fractures. We describe demographic, previously ambulatory ability, diagnosis, associated injuries, comorbility, complications and 1 year mortality.
60 patients (51 women) with a mean age of 83,5 (range, 65,1-99) years had osteoporotic rami fracture. Six patients had previously a rami fracture and 23 a osteoporotic fracture. 27 patients associated other pelvic fracture. Three pacientes had other extrapelvic fracture and six a craneoencephalic trauma. 41 patients had any complication at follow up. Eigth patients (13,3%) were admitted to hospital with a median length of stay in the hospital of 18 days. Eight (13,3%) patients died within 1 year of injury.
Low-impact rami fractures affect predominantly elderly women with pre-existing comorbidities. A substantial amount of complications are described in this fractures with a high 1 year mortality. Early rehabilitation therapy with adequate analgesic therapy should be recommended.