Percutaneous Titanium Elastic Nail Stabilization for Pelvic and Acetabular Fractures: Surgical Technique and Case Series

The stabilization of fractures of the anterior pelvic ring and anterior column of the acetabulum with antegrade or retrograde intramedullary screws has been frequently described. However, these narrow and nonlinear bony corridors can be challenging and dangerous to accommodate with rigid linear implants. Titanium elastic nails (TEN) are ideal implants to navigate in the narrow, irregular medullary canal in this anatomical location. This study aims to describe this surgical technique and its preliminary results. From April 2018 to October 2023, patients who underwent acute TEN stabilization of their pelvic or acetabular fractures were identified from a review of medical records at a Level 1 trauma center. A focused review of their clinical documentation was performed to describe their demographics, injury patterns, the surgical techniques used in their treatment, and their clinical and radiographic outcomes. During the almost 6-year period, 19 patients were identified (age: 39 ± 22 years; 74% male). There were 3 acetabulum and 16 pelvic ring fractures stabilized. One of the 19 patients underwent bilateral TEN fixation of the superior pubic rami. Patients were followed-up through hospital outpatient clinics postoperatively (median follow-up 14 months, IQR: 8-24 months). No fractures were complicated by nonunion or secondary displacement of the reduction. A 14-year-old patient required hardware removal due to irritation, and a 19-month-old patient underwent planned hardware removal due to her age. No patients have undergone hip arthroplasty to date, and there were no instances of infection or neurovascular injury. These preliminary results are promising and suggest that larger scale assessment of the indications and feasibility of TEN stabilization in pelvic and acetabular surgery is warranted.