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Treatment of Pelvic Ring Fractures in the Elderly

Treatment of Pelvic Ring Fractures in the Elderly: A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Surgical vs. Conservative Therapy

Status
Terminated
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02590783
Enrollment
88
Registered
2015-10-29
Start date
2017-10-17
Completion date
2022-07-11
Last updated
2024-05-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pelvic Pain

Keywords

treatment

Brief summary

Pelvic ring fractures in the elderly are associated with high morbidity during standard conservative treatment due to immobility. Furthermore the risk of long term dependence even after the fracture has united is high. In analogy to the treatment of hip fractures in a similar patient population, patients might benefit from surgical treatment due to a reduction in pain and early mobilization.

Detailed description

Comparison of surgical vs conservative treatment with respect to mobility, pain, morbidity and mortality.

Interventions

PROCEDUREexperimental intervention surgery

Patients are placed supine on the carbon table. Screw paths are planned on a spiral CT scan from the sacrum on transversal slices, two Kirschner-wires 2.5 mm in diameter are introduced into the iliac bone through a stab incision and advanced into the ilio-sacral joint, through the lateral part of sacrum into the first and second sacral body, through the contralateral lateral part of the sacrum and exiting the contralateral iliac bone through the sacra-iliac joint with aid of CT-guidance. Over the Kirschner-wires 7.0 mm cannulated screws are introduced and the Kirschner-wires withdrawn. Several low-dose computer tomography scans are performed to secure the correct position. Total radiation dose is 300 mille gray square centimetres (mGycm).

PROCEDUREcontrol intervention

Mobilization guided by our physiotherapists. Full weight bearing is allowed. Analgetic treatment with metamizol, ibuprofen or paracetamol to the attending physicians discretion under regular surveillance laboratory values and/ or morphine or methadone. Patients will be treated with an individually based approach, if necessary involving our anesthesiologic pain service. Thrombo-embolic prophylaxis with a low molecular weight heparin or rivaroxaban for 6 weeks unless there is an indication for oral anticoagulation. All patients will be followed up by the Geriatric Fracture Center considering osteoporosis, fall prophylaxis, malnutrition and delirium. For the duration of the study the patients will not receive Parathyroid Hormone Substitution or Phosphonates.

Sponsors

University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* CTI/MRI verified fracture of the sacrum affecting the posterior ring or both posterior and anterior ring * age\>65 years, ambulatory with/without walking aids before Trauma * ambulatory with/without walking aids before trauma * postmenopausal status in women * informed consent for study participation and surgery

Exclusion criteria

* Refusal of consent by the patient or legal representatives to participate in the study * Other fractures or * Unstable pelvic fracture (type B or C according to classification of 'Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen' (AO)/OTA) requiring surgical stabilisation after high- or low-energy trauma * Suspicion of a pathological fracture in the context of known or unknown malignancy * Previous surgery of the pelvis with metal obstructing the planned paths of the ilio-sacral screws * Symptomatic low back pain with morphological changes, i.e. intervertebral disc displacement, neoplasm metastasis in the axial skeleton, spinal stenosis, vertebral fracture, spondylarthropathy etc. * Comorbidity that precludes undergoing general or spinal anaesthesia * Pre-trauma mobility status that precludes achieving a post-trauma mobility status enabling the patient to perform the timed up and go test (e.g. patient being in a wheel chair)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Mobility at 3 weeks post-diagnosis3 weeks post-diagnosisQuality of mobilization will be compared using the TUG test. The primary endpoint is TUG at 3 weeks following diagnosis (+/- 3 days) all TUG measurements are assessed by the study nurse.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) at 4-7 days after diagnosis4-7 days after diagnosisFunctional recovery will be measured using the ADL score.
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) at 3 weeks3 weeksFunctional recovery will be measured using the ADL score.
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) at 3 months3 monthsFunctional recovery will be measured using the ADL score.
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) at 12 months12 monthsFunctional recovery will be measured using the ADL score.
Pain (VAS 10) at baselinebaselinePain will be assessed using the 10 point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS10).
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) at baselinebaselineFunctional recovery will be measured using the ADL score.
Pain (VAS 10) at 3 weeks3 weeksPain will be assessed using the 10 point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS10).
Pain (VAS 10) at 3 months3 monthsPain will be assessed using the 10 point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS10).
Number of patients that are able to return to their pre-injury living situation at 3 months3 monthsNumber of patients that are able to return to their pre-injury living Situation. The outcome to compare the return to the pre-injury living situation.
Number of patients that are able to return to their pre-injury living situation at 12 months12 monthsNumber of patients that are able to return to their pre-injury living Situation. The outcome to compare the return to the pre-injury living situation.
Pain (VAS 10) at 4-7 days after diagnosis4-7 days after diagnosisPain will be assessed using the 10 point Visual Analogue Scale (VAS10).

Countries

Switzerland

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026