Internal fixator vs external fixator in the management of unstable pelvic ring injuries: A prospective comparative cohort study

Table 2 Results

	EXFIX group	INFIX group	P value
Operative time (minutes)			< 0.001a
Range	16-25	28-60
mean ± SD	20.9 ± 2.6	41.2 ± 7.7
Quality of reduction (Matta and Torrenta score)
Excellent	10	14	0.022a
Good	7	14
Fair	6	0
Poor	1	2
Duration of fixation till removal (months)			< 0.001a
Range	3-4	3-18
Median (IQR)	3 (3-4)	5 (3-6)
Function before removal
Sitting abilities (n)
Painful	0	0	< 0.001a
Painful if prolonged or awkward	8	0
Uncomfortable	15	29
Free	0	1
Standing abilities (n)
Bedridden or almost	1	0	0.008a
Wheelchair	1	0
Two crutches	8	2
Two sticks	4	2
One stick	6	18
No sticks	3	8
Walking abilities (n)
Cannot walk or almost	0	0	0.042a
Shuffling small steps	9	4
Gross limp	6	4
Moderate limp	5	7
Slight limp	2	8
Normal	1	7
Total Majeed score at the end of the follow-up
Range	75-100	71-100	0.513
mean ± SD	91 ± 7.8	92.4 ± 7.2
LFCN affection, n (%)	5 (20.8)	7 (23.3)	0.826
Surgical site infection, n (%)	8 (33.3)	1 (3.3)	0.007a

^aP < 0.05, Statistically significant.

SD: Standard deviation; IQR: Interquartile range; LFCN: Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve; EXFIX: External fixator; INFIX: Internal fixator.