Postpartum Septic Symphysitis, a Rare Condition With Possible Long-Term Consequences: A Cohort Study With Long-Term Follow-Up

Abstract

BackgroundPostpartum septic symphysitis (PPSS) is defined as acute onset of severe pain around the symphysis, restricted movement, fever and elevated inflammatory parameters. It is a rare but serious condition requiring urgent diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and long-term follow-up of PPSS.MethodsThis was a follow-up study including 19 women diagnosed with PPSS from 1989 to 2017 at one tertiary care hospital in Sweden. Clinical data were retrieved from hospital records and compared to those retrieved from a regional registry. Women completed a postal questionnaire, and those who reported lumbo-pelvic pain (LPP) were offered a clinical examination.Results1) PPSS was diagnosed after a normal postpartum period of 24 to 50 hours by blood tests (n=19); MRI, (n=13/19); ultrasonography (n=8 /19) or CT (n=3/19). Treatment included aspiration of symphyseal abscesses, i.v. antibiotics and physiotherapy. Women with PPSS more frequently were primiparous (n=14/19, p=0.001), had an instrumental delivery (n=14/19, p=0.003), had a longer time of active labour (p=0.01) and second stage of labour (p=0.001) than women in the regional registry. 2) Ten out of nineteen (52%) women reported LPP at follow-up. These women more often suffered impaired function related to LPP (Pelvic Girdle Questionnaire, 27 versus 0, p<0.0001), a poorer health-related quality of life (EuroQol-5 dimensions p=0.001 and EuroQol-visual analogue scale, 65 mm versus 84 mm, p=0.022) and higher levels of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS)-A, 7 versus 2, p=0.010; and HADS-D, 1 versus 0, p=0.028) than women with no pain. 3). Of the eight women who received a clinical assessment, one had lumbar pain and seven had PGP.ConclusionsIn the largest cohort of patients with PPSS to date, primiparas and women with instrumental vaginal delivery were overrepresented, indicating that first and complicated deliveries might be risk factors. Approximately half of the women reported PGP, with considerable consequences affecting health-related quality of life and function decades after delivery. Prospective multicentre studies are needed to establish risk factors for, long-term consequences of and adequate treatment for this rare pregnancy complication.