Ten patients had a wedge resection of the symphysis pubis for the
treatment of symptoms of osteitis pubis that had been recalcitrant to
non-operative treatment for at least six months. Preoperatively, the
average duration of symptoms was thirty-two months. The symptoms included a
waddling gait and crepitus, pain, and tenderness over the symphysis pubis.
The early radiographic signs of the disease were rarefaction of the
adjacent pubic bones and widening of the symphysis pubis. Later signs
included sclerosis and narrowing of the symphyseal joint space.
Pathological examination of the resected joint revealed chronic
inflammatory reaction in all patients. At an average of fourteen months
postoperatively, all of the patients had marked improvement and were fully
active. However, at an average of ninety-two months postoperatively, three
of the ten patients were not satisfied with the result. One patient needed
bilateral sacro-iliac arthrodesis for pain that was caused by
instability.