Surgical Wound Complications after Percutaneous Posterior Pelvic Ring Fixation in Patients Who Undergo Pelvic Arterial Embolization

Objective: To report on the incidence of surgical wound complications after percutaneous posterior pelvic ring fixation in patients who have also undergone pelvic arterial embolization (PAE) and determine whether the risks outweigh the benefits. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Academic level 1 trauma center. Patients: Two hundred one consecutive patients who underwent percutaneous posterior pelvic fixation at our institution were included in this study. Of these, 27 patients underwent pelvic arterial embolization. Intervention: Percutaneous posterior pelvic fixation and pelvic arterial embolization. Main Outcome Measurements: Charts were reviewed for posterior percutaneous surgical wound complications including infection, dehiscence, seroma, tissue necrosis, and return to OR for debridement in all patients. Results: Of the 27 patients who received PAE, none developed posterior surgical wound complications. Of those who did not receive PAE, there was one posterior surgical wound complication documented. There were no cases of wound infection in either group. Conclusion: Pelvic arterial embolization can be a valuable intervention in treating hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic ring injuries. Although even selective pelvic arterial embolization is not entirely benign, there seems to be minimal risk of wound complications when percutaneous posterior pelvic ring fixation is performed.