Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41575537›Full record

ArticleActa orthopaedica2026

Complication rates following open surgical removal of osteosynthesis material from the pelvis and acetabulum: a retrospective case series of 154 removals.

Thore C Scherff, Nico Hinz, Cornelius Grimme, Karl-Heinz Frosch, Maximilian Hartel

Abstract read
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Article in Acta orthopaedica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Thore C ScherffDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Orthopedics and Sports Traumatology, BG Klinikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Nico HinzDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Orthopedics and Sports Traumatology, BG Klinikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. n.hinz@bgk-hamburg.de.
Cornelius GrimmeDepartment of Septic Trauma Surgery and Orthopedics, BG Klinikum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Karl-Heinz FroschDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Orthopedics and Sports Traumatology, BG Klinikum Hamburg, Hamburg; Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Maximilian HartelDepartment of Trauma Surgery, Orthopedics and Sports Traumatology, BG Klinikum Hamburg, Hamburg; Department of Trauma and Orthopedic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

background and purposeWhile complication rates for primary pelvic and acetabular fracture surgeries are well documented, limited data exists on complications following osteosynthesis implant removals. We aimed to evaluate the complication rates of pelvic implant removals with respect to the surgical approach, type of implant, and indication for removal.

methodsThis retrospective, consecutive case series included all patients undergoing pelvic implant removal between January 2013 and December 2023 using Kocher-Langenbeck, modified Stoppa (AIP), or ilioinguinal approaches for the removal. Isolated minimally invasive, percutaneous implant removals were excluded.

results154 implant removals in 141 patients were analyzed. Overall complication rate was 34% (n = 53). Most common complications were intraoperative bleeding requiring transfusion (n = 17; 11%), postoperative anemia requiring transfusion (n = 12; 7.8%), and vascular injuries (n = 9; 5.8%). The ilioinguinal approach showed a higher complication rate (19/37; 51%) than the Kocher-Langenbeck (21/68; 31%) or the Stoppa/AIP approach (13/49; 27%). Removal of implants from the anterior pelvic ring and acetabulum (22/45; 49%) also had a higher complication risk than from the posterior pelvic ring and acetabulum (20/67; 30%) or of symphyseal plates (11/42; 26%). Removal due to infection also showed a particularly high complication rate (25/57; 44%) compared with aseptic indications, e.g., interfering material or removal for THA.

conclusionPelvic implant removals, especially from the anterior pelvic ring or acetabulum, using the ilioinguinal approach, and in case of infection, are associated with a particularly high complication risk. These findings can support clinical decision-making and informing patients on the potential risks of hardware removals.

Indexed as

AcetabulumDevice RemovalFracture Fixation, InternalFractures, BoneHardware RemovalPelvic BonesPostoperative ComplicationsAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective Studies

Identifiers

PMID41575537
PMCPMC12829339

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