Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of the trochanteric pelvic clamp to reduce anterior-posterior compression pelvic ring disruptions.
Design: Eight fresh-frozen cadavers underwent sequential disruption of the pelvic ring to represent both anterior-posterior compression type II (APC II) and anterior-posterior compression type III (APC III) injury patterns. Reduction with the trochanteric pelvic clamp was performed. Prereduction and postreduction anterior/posterior pelvic displacements were determined radiographically.
Setting: Institutional research laboratory.
Intervention: Application of a trochanteric pelvic clamp to reduce a pelvic ring disruption.
Main outcome measure: Radiographic measurements of anterior and posterior pelvic displacement were evaluated and compared to similar values after reduction with the trochanteric pelvic clamp.
Results: The application of the trochanteric pelvic clamp to simulated APC II and APC III pelvic injuries in a cadaver model demonstrated a significant reduction of the anterior pubic diastasis and the posterior disruption of the sacroiliac joint. Anterior pelvic vertical displacement did not improve with application of the trochanteric pelvic clamp. Measurement of symphysis diastasis for APC II injuries was 4.07 cm (+/-0.31) prereduction and 0.38 cm (+/-0.18) postreduction, (P < 0.001); for APC III injuries, 6.32 cm (+/-0.84) prereduction and 1.24 cm (+/-1.01) postreduction, (P < 0.001). For posterior sacroiliac disruptions, APC II injury measurements were 1.81 cm (+/-0.35) prereduction and 0.69 cm (+/-0.32) postreduction (P < 0.001); for APC III injuries, 3.81 cm (+/-1.06) prereduction and 1.86 cm (+/-0.82) postreduction (P = 0.002). At the symphysis pubis, APC II vertical displacement was 0.32 cm (+/-0.36) prereduction and 0.30 cm (+/-0.38) postreduction (P < 0.740); for APC III injuries, 0.5 cm (+/-0.31) prereduction and 0.88 cm (+/-0.53) postreduction (P < 0.098).
Conclusions: The application of the trochanteric pelvic clamp is reliable for obtaining reduction of anterior-posterior compression pelvic injuries in a cadaver model.