Is fixation failure after plate fixation of the symphysis pubis clinically important?

Background: Plate fixation is a recognized treatment for pelvic ring injuries involving disruption of the pubic symphysis. Although fixation failure is well known, it is unclear whether early or late fixation failure is clinically important.

Questions/purposes: We therefore determined (1) the incidence and mode of failure of anterior plate fixation for traumatic pubic symphysis disruption; (2) whether failure of fixation was associated with the types of pelvic ring injury or pelvic fixation used; (3) the complications, including the requirement for reoperation or hardware removal; and (4) whether radiographic followup of greater than 1 year alters subsequent management.