Objective: The incidence of pelvic fractures is relatively low compared with other fracture locations. The low incidence is in great contrast to the high morbidity and mortality. Particularly in the elderly, with apparently isolated fractures of the pubic rami, these observations are believed to be due to additional occult lesions of the posterior pelvic ring. In these cases diagnosis cannot be established by conventional imaging alone and SPECT/CT is considered as a diagnostic adjunct. The aim of this study was to assess concomitant bony or soft tissue lesions within the pelvic ring in a population of patients with fractures of the anterior elements.
Materials and methods: In all patients with no obvious lesions of the posterior pelvic ring on X-rays and CT or with suspicious but inconclusive findings on CT an additional SPECT/CT was carried out in a non-acute setting within 3 days of the trauma.
Results: In all cases additional lesions within the pelvic ring were found. Most lesions were vertical sacral fractures, followed by transverse fractures, one non-dislocated fracture of the acetabulum on the side of the pubic rami fracture, and one post-traumatic dilatation of the sacroiliac joint with increased tracer uptake.
Conclusion: According to our results after SPECT/CT all patients with pubic rami fracture suffered additional lesions, none detectable previously by X-ray or CT, within the pelvic ring. In this context SPECT/CT has proved to be very helpful in the clinical routine to visualize occult fractures and instability within the sacroiliac joint.