Tape suture for stabilization of incomplete posterior pelvic ring fractures—biomechanical analysis of a new minimally invasive treatment for incomplete lateral compression pelvic ring fractures

BACKGROUND: Incomplete lateral compression fractures (including AO Type B2.1) are among the most common pelvic ring injuries. Although the treatment of choice remains controversial, sacroiliac (SI) screws are commonly used for the operative treatment of incomplete lateral compression fractures of the pelvic ring. However, the disadvantages of SI screws include the risk of nerve root or blood vessel injury. Recently, tape sutures have been found useful as stabilizing material for the treatment of injuries of the syndesmosis, the rotator cuff and knee ligaments. In this current study, we aimed to test the biomechanical feasibility of tape sutures to stabilize the pelvis in the setting of AO Type B2.1 injury. METHODS: Six human cadaveric pelvises underwent cyclic loading to compare the biomechanical stability of different osteosynthesis methods in a B2.1 fracture model. The methods tested in this experiment were a FiberTape® suture and the currently established SI screw. A 3D ultrasound tracking system was used to measure fracture fragment motion. Linear regression was used to model displacement and stiffness at the posterior and anterior pelvic ring. RESULTS: At the posterior fracture site, the FiberTape® demonstrated similar displacement (2.2 ± 0.8 mm) and stiffness (52.2 ± 18.0 N/mm) compared to the sacroiliac screw (displacement 2.1 ± 0.6 mm, P > 0.999; stiffness 50.8 ± 13.0 N/mm, P > 0.999). Considering the anterior fracture site, the FiberTape® again demonstrated similar displacement (3.8 ± 1.3 mm) and stiffness (29.5 ± 9.0 N/mm) compared to the sacroiliac screw (displacement 2.9 ± 0.8 mm, P = 0.2196; stiffness 37.5 ± 11.5 N/mm, P = 0.0711). CONCLUSION: The newly presented osteosynthesis, the FiberTape®, shows promising results for the stabilization of the posterior pelvic ring in AO Type B2.1 lateral compression fractures compared to a sacroiliac screw osteosynthesis based on its minimal-invasiveness and the statistically similar biomechanical properties.