Overlapped Pubic Symphysis; a Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction

n overlapped dislocation of the pubic symphysis is a rare type of the lateral compression injury of the pelvis that an intact pubic body displaces against the contralateral intact pubic body. Subsequently by increasing the compression thrust, the intact pubic body may protrude, trap and lock through the contralateral obturator foramen (1-21).

The proposed mechanism of overlapped dislocation of the pubic symphysis is based on the Eggers concept who first described this injury (7). Hyperextension and adduction or abduction of the femur induces a lateral compression thrust to the pelvis because the femoral head locks in the acetabulum by the tension on the iliofemoral ligament. If the pelvis further being compressed, the thrust may be transmitted to the pubic symphysis and disrupt the pubic symphysis ligaments. Theoretically, internal or external rotation of the femur displaces the pubic bone posterior or anterior to the contralateral intact pubic body (1, 7, 12, 13).

This study presents a case of an overlapped dislocated pubic symphysis. We also reviewed the literature and analyzed the data of the previous reports as well as the current case collectively.

Case report

A 24-year old male unrestraint passenger was involved in an overturned vehicle accident. On arrival, he was conscious with stable vital signs but he complained from intense pain around his pelvis and lower abdomen. He was not able to move his left lower limb which was laid flat on the table. There was no neurologic deficit. There was tenderness on pubic symphysis and lumbosacral region.  His bladder was distended. He was not able to void and blood was detected at his urethral meatus. A suprapubic catheter was placed by urologic service.

Antroposterior pelvic radiographs demonstrated an overlapped dislocated pubic symphysis [Figure 1]. Under general anesthesia successful closed reduction was performed by manipulating the left femur in flexion, abduction and external rotation while the pelvis was stabilized by manual pressure on the iliac wings. The pelvic ring was stable on post reduction examination [Figure 2]. Post reduction Computerized Tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a non-displaced zone 2 sacral ala fracture on the left side [Figure 3]. A retrograde urethrography demonstrated urethral trans-section. The patient rested in bed for 6 weeks and then he was allowed to walk and bear weight. At the latest follow up, seven months post injury; he was able to walk well without any pelvic pain but his urologic problems were remained.

Discussion and review of literature

Closed reduction of the overlapped pubic symphysis may be accomplished by using the femur as a lever arm in flexion, abduction and external rotation. This position tightens the iliofemoral ligament. Then, gentle rocking motion, rotation and abduction of the femur may reduce the overlapped dislocated pubic symphysis (1, 7, 13). This maneuver has a risk of femoral neck fracture. A second maneuver applies a lateral compression to the pelvis concurrent with a posteriorly directed thrust to the symphysis (1, 13). However, closed manipulations may fail to dislodge a locked pubic symphysis.

Thulasiraman et al. have suggested a classification based on the overlapped amount of the pubic symphysis; type I: less than 2.5 cm overlap; type II: more than 2.5 cm overlap but no penetration through the obturator foramen and type III: the pubis penetrates through the opposite obturator foramen (19). However, the usefulness of this classification is unclear.

The two terms of “locked pubic symphysis” and “overlapped pubic symphysis” dislocation have been used synonymously in the literature (12). Maqungo et al. have suggested a classification based on:  ability to achieve and maintain closed reduction, incarceration of the pubic bone into the opposite obturator foramen and the significance of a posterior pelvic ring injury (12).

Maqungo et al. have presented three grades of overlapped pubic symphysis (12):

Grade 1: overlapped pubic symphysis where closed reduction can be achieved and maintained; Grade 2: overlapped pubic symphysis where open reduction is needed and Grade 3: Locked symphysis and incarceration into the obturator foramen. Each grade has two sub classifications; A: without a significant posterior ring injury and B: with a significant posterior ring injury. Grade 1 injuries can be treated conservatively after closed reduction. Grade 2 and grade 3 injuries need open reduction.  After closed or open reduction, if pelvic instability persists, the pelvic ring needs anterior and may posterior internal fixation to achieve a stable pelvis (12).

According to the Maqungo et al. classification, the current case was Grade 1.

A literature search on locked/overlapped symphysis was performed in April 2015 using Google (www.google.com), Science Direct (http://www.sciencedirect.com), PubMed (www.pubmed.com), and Springer (http://link.springer.com) search engines or databases. Keyword search terms included: “overlapped pubic symphysis” and “locked pubic symphysis”. When available, the search was restricted to the category limitations of human, abstracts, case reports, case series, and reviews. Furthermore, all the articles’ references and cross-references were checked and, if relevant, were included in the study. A total of 21 articles were located of which one article was omitted due to inadequate information (1- 21). This provided a total of 20 articles describing 25 patients (including the current case) that were employed for our analysis. The articles were reviewed for the following data points; age of patients, sex, injury side, locked or overlapped pubic symphysis, presence of posterior pelvic ring injury, anterior or posterior position of dislocated pubic body, presence of urologic injuries and treatment options.

The data are presented in Table 1. There were 20 (80%) males and 5 (20%) females patients with an average age of 26 (range 16- 44) years old. There were 19 (76%) locked and 6 (24%) overlapped dislocated pubic symphyses according to the descriptions of the authors. The sides of the pelvic injuries were right in 12, left in 12 and was not specified in one patient.

All the overlapped cases were managed by closed reduction. The locked positions of two out of the 19 patients were reduced by closed reduction maneuvers; however, 17 cases required open reductions and anterior internal fixation. Five patients needed posterior internal fixations as well as anterior internal fixations to achieve a stable pelvis. Anterior open reduction has been performed through Pfannenstiel approach.

Overlapped dislocated pubic symphysis is commonly associated with the other injuries. Neurologic deficit has been reported in 12% of the patients (2). In the current study, 19 (76%) out of 25 patients had documented sacral fracture on pelvic radiographs or CT scan. In 3 patients there was no apparent posterior pelvic ring lesion on radiographs; however, they had not further sophisticated imaging. One patient had not posterior pelvic ring lesion investigated by CT scan. In 2 patients the presence of posterior pelvic ring lesion was not specified. Urethral injuries are seen in 13 (65%) of the male patients.

Although Eggers, O’Toole et al. have theorized that the overlapped dislocations may be anterior or posterior; however, 24 out of the 25 reported cases had posterior overlapped dislocated pubic symphysis (7, 13). The only case of anterior overlapped pubic symphysis has been reported by Robinson et al.; however, they did not provide imaging documents (14).  Therefore, the reported anterior dislocation by Robinson et al is uncertain. Tadros et al. believe that anterior overlap does not exist (12, 17).

Overlapped pubic symphysis is a rare but serious pelvic injury. The two terms of “locked pubic symphysis” and “overlapped pubic symphysis” have been used synonymously in the literature. Overlapped pubic symphysis is commonly associated with fracture of the sacrum and urethral injury in the male patients. After closed or open reduction, if pelvic instability persists, it needs anterior and may posterior internal fixation to achieve a stable pelvis.