Report of a rare complication - fracture of the pedicles - in a patient with total disc replacement of L5-S1, a surgical resolution, and a biomechanical explanation. To the authors' knowledge, there is only one previous report of bilateral fracture of the pedicles in the literature, as a complication in total disc replacement of the lumbar spine. In this case, no direct repair was made to the fracture site; instead intersomatic fusion was performed by the anterior approach. A 40-year-old male, a martial arts practitioner who had undergone L5-S1 (ProDisc(r)) disc replacement nine months earlier, with complete resolution of the preoperative symptoms and no complications, sudden pain during physical activity, without neurological symptoms. Computed axial tomography showed a fracture of the L5 pedicles and anterior luxation of the polyethylene insert. Surgery was performed by the posterior approach, with direct repair of the fractures and posterolateral fusion of L5-S1 with transpedicular screws (Schanz) and USS(r) internal fixator. A follow-up axial CT scan at 6 months after surgery showed complete consolidation of the fractures, and the patient was asymptomatic. Due to the alteration in weight transmission through the anterior part of the spine in the total replacement of the lumbar disc, which preserves the movement but not the absorption of forces, the pedicle becomes more susceptible to fracture. It is important to bear this complication in patients submitted to this procedure.

Objective: The importance of sacral fractures has recently been recognized. However, its diagnosis is difficult, both clinically and through image, but there are more options for comprehensive diagnosis. Methods: We conducted a literature review about its diagnosis and the treatments currently offered, and also to check which treatments had the best results. Results: Patients with pelvic insufficiency have limited mobility due to lumbar or pelvic pain. As radiculopathy is a neurologically stable condition, it has a reported incidence of only 5% and sphincter disorders. The pain improves when lying down and increases with load. The treatments vary from conservative to surgical. Discussion: The different treatments were compared, and the one that has more morbidity is the conservative, because it predisposes us to complications (pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, heart failure, decubitus ulcers); in the interventionists we observe a faster improvement to normal activity of these patients, the complications are minor and the pain improvement is noticeable and much faster. Conclusion: Fractures due to pelvic insufficiency are underdiagnosed. However, there are already better imaging techniques and combined with good exploration and clinical history we can suspect this condition and offer the best possible treatment, these being the invasive ones that have had better results with lower morbidity and recovery of activity much more quickly. Level of Evidence III; Review of therapeutic studies -Investigation of treatment results.Keywords: Fracture; Pelvis; Diagnosis; Therapeutics. RESUMO