Pelvic Stress Fracture After Long Posterolateral Lumbosacral Fusions: A Case Report

Ha, Kee Yong; Rhyu, Kee Won; Lee, Joo Yup

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To report a case of late stress-type fractures of the left pubic rami in a patient who had undergone long lumbosacral fusion. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Longer fusions into the lumbosacral spine have been shown to increase significantly the stress and motion at adjacent segments. There were paucy reports concerned stress pubic rami fracture after posterolateral fusion without instrumentation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A 71 year-old woman underwent posterolateral fusion from L3 to S1 for spinal stenosis combined with degenerative spondyolisthesis. Eight years later, she had the insidious onset of left groin pain without trauma.
RESULTS
Plain radiographs showed minimally displaced fractures of the left superior and inferior pubic rami. She was treated conservatively. At latest follow-up, she remained well and asymptomatic.
CONCLUSIONS
Pelvic stress fracture is a extremely rare sequela after long lumbosacral fusions. We report a case with left pubic rami fractures after long posterolateral lumbosacral fusion.