Lumbopelvic fixation: a surgical alternative for lumbar stability

OBJECTIVE: Lumbopelvic fixation is a valid surgical option to achieving great stability in cases where it is particularly demanded, such as in patients with poor quality bone, degenerative scoliosis, and revision surgeries with modern materials and techniques. It enables simple integration of the iliopelvic systems with the rest of the spinal structure, maintaining hemorrhagia at acceptable levels, as well as surgery time. METHODS: We analyzed a case series of 15 patients of our center, who required major construction and/or presented poor quality bone. RESULTS: A total of 15 patients was studied, of which 12 (80%) were women and three (20%), men. Nine (60%) of these were revision surgeries, maintaining a surgery time of 5 hours (±1 h), with average blood loss of 1380 ml (±178 ml). All the patients received six to eight transpedicular screws, including iliac screws, and in all cases, a bone graft was inserted. CONCLUSION: Lumbopelvic fixation in patients with characteristics associated with osteopenia and osteoporosis, and in major instrumentations, particularly revision surgeries, three-dimensional correction is achieved, constructing a strong, stable pelvic base that is very useful, in patients with fragile surgical anatomy, for changes of implant or extensive decompression, provided the arthrodesis technique is adequate and with the insertion of a sufficient bone graft, and obviously, taking care to maintain the sagittal balance.