A sacral fracture is a break in the sacrum bone. The sacrum is the large triangular bone that forms the last part of the vertebral column from the fusion of the five sacral vertebrae. Sacral fractures are relatively uncommon. They tend to be caused by high-energy trauma, for example in road traffic accidents or in falls.[1]

In this picture of the pelvis, the sacrum is the butterfly-shaped bone in the middle
Lateral view of the sacrum and the coccyx

They are heterogenous[2] (which means the bone can break in several different places, in several different ways) and almost always appear together with other injuries. This makes them difficult to diagnose and treat.[1]

As with other types of fractures, osteoporosis is a risk factor.[1][2]

The management may or may not include surgery.[1][3]

Classification

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The Denis Classification System classified sacral fractures into three regions according to the part of the bone affected. The location of the fracture has a major influence on symptoms experienced.[3][4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Rodrigues-Pinto, Ricardo; Kurd, Mark F.; Schroeder, Gregory D.; Kepler, Christopher K.; Krieg, James C.; Holstein, Jörg H.; Bellabarba, Carlo; Firoozabadi, Reza; Oner, F. Cumhur; Kandziora, Frank; Dvorak, Marcel F.; Kleweno, Conor P.; Vialle, Luiz R.; Rajasekaran, S.; Schnake, Klause J.; Vaccaro, Alexander R. (October 27, 2017). "Sacral Fractures and Associated Injuries". Global Spine Journal. 7 (7): 609–616. doi:10.1177/2192568217701097. PMC 5624377. PMID 28989838.
  2. ^ a b Santolini, Emmanuele; Kanakaris, Nikolaos K.; Giannoudis, Peter V. (May 1, 2020). "Sacral fractures: issues, challenges, solutions". EFORT Open Reviews. 5 (5): 299–311. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.5.190064. PMC 7265089. PMID 32509335.
  3. ^ a b Bydon, Mohamad; Fredrickson, Vance; Garza-Ramos, Rafael De la; Li, Yiping; Lehman, Ronald A.; Trost, Gregory R.; Gokaslan, Ziya L. (July 1, 2014). "Sacral fractures". Neurosurgical Focus. 37 (1): E12. doi:10.3171/2014.5.FOCUS1474. PMID 24981900 – via thejns.org.
  4. ^ Denis, F.; Davis, S.; Comfort, T. (February 27, 1988). "Sacral fractures: an important problem. Retrospective analysis of 236 cases". Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 227: 67–81. doi:10.1097/00003086-198802000-00010. PMID 3338224 – via PubMed.