Biomechanical comparison of ilioinguinal approach and medial stoppa technique in anterior column fractures

Ilioinguinal approach is accepted as a gold standard in treatment of anterior column fractures. Medial Stoppa technique is an alternative and new surgical approach to access to the internal pelvis and medial wall of the acetabulum. Medial stoppa technique has some advantages with regards to ilioinguinal approach. Windows at superior of ilioinguinal ligament has to open in ilioinguinal approach however in medial stoppa technique it is not neccessary to open those windows. There is no need to dissect the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and the femoral nerve on medial stoppa technique but on ilioinguinal approach there is. Also, damage of external iliac vessel is smaller than ilioinguinal approach. While medial stoppa technique has advantages, few studies in literature has been done because of the novelty of the surgical method. In this study biomechanical comparison on ilioinguinal approach and medial stoppa technique on anterior colomn fractures were investigated. In this study fifteen sawbone were used. Five of sawbones were not implanted and load applied only. During the application of load those sawbones were investigated. Other ten sawbones' both columns fracture lines were generated. Ten sawbones' one column was treated by ilioinguinal approach and the other column was treated by medial stoppa technique. Afterwards, to compare the mechanical rigidity of both surgical techniques axial load was applied to implanted pelvis models. As a result; although medial stoppa technique was advantagous surgically but ilioinguinal approach appiled column more rigid than other column in biomechanical tests.