Can you please suggest plan of management for 2 months old polytrauma in 18 year old morbidly obese lady, who sustained a complex pelvic # with bilateral feet drop? Should we try to salvage this hip with an attempt at ORIF or do a primary THR?
I think, in younger age, We should try to fix the fracture. So, my suggestion is to do extended ilioinguinal approach and reduce the symphysiolisis and anterior coloumn acetabular fracture with long reconstruction plate and then turn to posterior approach to do open reduction of dislocated hip and fixation for posterior coloumn. in younger age, chance fot nerve regeneration also high.
I can see that already the hip was fixed and this is great. Personally I will not consider a total hip replacement to start with and I can see that this is not done. The reason is very simple; there is no stability at the acetabulum and a cage will fail. Patient I am sure that is informed for the risks of a secondary post traumatic arthritis and possible replacement at a second stage. It is a great work to a very demanding patient. Thank you for sharing.
I appreciate the way Mr Raju did fixed the pelvis without going for THR. This lady will do well regarding Nerve palsy . We get enough time to reduce her body weight by Bariatric surgery and then when situation prevails to do the Hip replacement
The patient should have physiotherapy on bed ,remain non weight bearing for minimum of 6 wks, then slowly mobilizing with a flexible Foot drop splint attached and on a walker loading 1/10 of her body wt. with gradual increment by 10lbs every week.Hip abduction,Gluteal muscles strengthening exercises to be done followed by Hydrotherapy, till radio logically and clinically the of Pelvis shows union. The Hip Joint CT by MRI Scan every 3-6 months to see evidence of AVN developing. When seen Core Decompression and vascularised Fibular grafting could be the treatment of choice.
ORIF (with all possible technical difficulties but can turn to be beneficial for the foot drop on the ipsilateral side) and later (after several months ?) when the pelvis heals (eventually) THR. The case is really very difficult.
I had my initial answer to this question befor but unfortunetly that was not saved. Anyway, I would suggest ORIF of Pelvic fracture , with Titenium implants,reducing the Hip and start mobilising the Legs on Bed with foot drop spints. After 6 wks of surgery she should be mobilished wearing flexible Foot Drop spint and a walker.Watch the Rt Hip for evidence of AVN and recovery of common peroneal nerve. NCV study of both lower limbs will suggest type of nerve injury and the site of lession MRI scan at this stage will show both the Rt Hip and Nerves