Sacral Fracture

Introduction

A sacral fracture is the bony fracture of the sacrum, which is also called the os sacrum. Isolated sacral fractures occur rather rarely (about 10% of cases). Much more often they occur as a result of severe trauma in combination with other injuries.

Sacral fractures belong to the group of pelvic fractures and usually occur as part of a severe injury (polytrauma) due to a fall from a great height, a high speed trauma in a traffic accident, burials or incarceration. In these cases, a sacral fracture is usually combined with other serious injuries, such as internal bleeding, other bone fractures or pelvic floor injuries. But even without the serious concomitant injuries, sacral fractures can lead to severe instability of the spine and its consequences. This is due to the fact that the entire torso load of the spinal column is initially carried only by the sacrum, which then distributes it further to the pelvis and thighs.

Causes of a sacral fracture

Sacral fractures usually occur in the context of a fall from a great height, in which direct force is applied to the sacrum. However, sacral fractures can also occur as a result of indirect force, for example through the leverage of the thigh bone (femur) or through the transmission of force along the leg. This plays an important role in high speed trauma, for example.

Both the frequency of osteoporosis-related sacral fractures and their clinical significance are increasing. The reason for this, in addition to the ageing population, is demographic change. As a result, even the smallest injuries and accidents are increasingly leading to sacral fractures because the bony structures are weakened and less resistant.

These fractures caused by osteoporosis require special assessment and therapeutic care. A relevant aspect for surgical treatment is that in the case of existing osteoporosis, the osteosynthesis material introduced must also be fixed in the pelvis. In addition, filling the screw material with cement may be useful to ensure a correspondingly better stability. These topics may be of additional interest to you:

  • Osteoporosis therapy
  • Active against osteoporosis