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

Document Type : CASE REPORT

Authors

Bone and Joint Reconstruction Research Center, Department of Orthopedics, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

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

Main Subjects


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