The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery

The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery

Misdiagnosis of Congenital Pubic Symphysis Diastasis as Post-Traumatic Pubic Diastasis: A Case Report

Document Type : CASE REPORT

Authors
Sajad Noori Garavand
Elham Mohammadyahya
Hamed Tayyebi
Bone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
10.22038/abjs.2023.70876.3317
Abstract
In patients with congenital pubic diastasis, who present with polytrauma injury, pubic diastasis could 
be falsely attributed to the traumatic event. This generally occurs in asymptomatic patients whose 
anomaly is not diagnosed before the traumatic event. In this report, we present a case of a 26 -year-old 
male with fracture-dislocation of the left hip and congenital agenesis of pubic bones that was initially 
misdiagnosed as post-traumatic pubic diastasis due to the patient’s reduced consciousness. A closer 
examination led to noticing his micropenis and the scar from the earlier surgical intervention, and 
thereby, suspicion of the congenital etiology of the pubic diastasis, later confirmed by pre -trauma 
radiography. This case reveals that the congenital etiology of pubic diastasis could be missed owing to 
the patient’s reduced consciousness. Therefore, a full inspection of the etiology of pelvic ring injury is 
necessary before conducting any surgical intervention. 
 Level of evidence: IV
Keywords
Agenesis
Congenital
Polytrauma
Pubic diastasis
Subjects

  1.  

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The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery
Volume 11, Issue 9
September 2023
Pages 588-590

  • Receive Date 22 February 2023
  • Revise Date 26 July 2023
  • Accept Date 18 March 2023