Internal fixator vs external fixator in the management of unstable pelvic ring injuries: A prospective comparative cohort study

Table 1 Patient’s demographics and fracture characteristics

	EXFIX group (n = 24)	INFIX group (n = 30)	P value
Age (years, mean ± SD)	31.2 ± 10.95	34.5 ± 8.35	0.205
Sex			0.066
M, n (%)	10 (41.7)	20 (66.7)
F, n (%)	14 (58.3)	10 (33.3)
Follow-up (months)			0.0468
Range	12-18	12-20
mean ± SD	14.8 ± 0.8	15.9 ± 2.4
Mode of trauma			0.873
Falling from height	10	12
Road traffic accident	13	17
Train accident	1	0
Heavy object	0	1
Tile classification			0.650
B1	2	0
B2	8	8
B3	3	7
C1	9	12
C2	1	2
C3	1	1
ASA score			0.978
ASA1	13	17
ASA2	7	8
ASA 3	4	5

SD: Standard deviation; ASA: American society of anesthesiologists; EXFIX: External fixator; INFIX: Internal fixator.

Table 2 Results

	EXFIX group	INFIX group	P value
Operative time (minutes)			< 0.001a
Range	16-25	28-60
mean ± SD	20.9 ± 2.6	41.2 ± 7.7
Quality of reduction (Matta and Torrenta score)
Excellent	10	14	0.022a
Good	7	14
Fair	6	0
Poor	1	2
Duration of fixation till removal (months)			< 0.001a
Range	3-4	3-18
Median (IQR)	3 (3-4)	5 (3-6)
Function before removal
Sitting abilities (n)
Painful	0	0	< 0.001a
Painful if prolonged or awkward	8	0
Uncomfortable	15	29
Free	0	1
Standing abilities (n)
Bedridden or almost	1	0	0.008a
Wheelchair	1	0
Two crutches	8	2
Two sticks	4	2
One stick	6	18
No sticks	3	8
Walking abilities (n)
Cannot walk or almost	0	0	0.042a
Shuffling small steps	9	4
Gross limp	6	4
Moderate limp	5	7
Slight limp	2	8
Normal	1	7
Total Majeed score at the end of the follow-up
Range	75-100	71-100	0.513
mean ± SD	91 ± 7.8	92.4 ± 7.2
LFCN affection, n (%)	5 (20.8)	7 (23.3)	0.826
Surgical site infection, n (%)	8 (33.3)	1 (3.3)	0.007a

^aP < 0.05, Statistically significant.

SD: Standard deviation; IQR: Interquartile range; LFCN: Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve; EXFIX: External fixator; INFIX: Internal fixator.