Extract
Pelvic ring disruption that results in a locked pubic symphysis is an
unusual injury. A locked pubic symphysis is defined as a compression of the
pelvic ring, with the intact pubis becoming trapped against the contralateral
pubis. Although the injury pattern is well recognized in clinical practice, to
the best of our knowledge, only eight patients with this injury have been
reported in the English-language
literature1-8
since its original description by Eggers in
19523.A proposed mechanism for a locked symphysis is forced hyperextension and
adduction of the
hip1 resulting from
a lateral compression force to the pelvis. This injury causes a rupture of the
ligaments that normally stabilize the symphysis. The superior, anterior, and
posterior ligaments are weak, while the arcuate (or inferior) ligament is
thought to confer most of the stability to this fibrocartilaginous
joint9. After
rupture of these ligaments, the displaced pelvic bone may lie either anterior
or posterior to the contralateral pubis. Because of the direction and
magnitude of this pubic displacement, the injury pattern has been associated
with urethral
injury2,3,5,7.