Unstable pelvic ring disruptions result from high energy trauma and often are associated with multiple concomitant injuries (1–3). Hemorrhage, head injury, pelvic soft tissue trauma (open fractures), and primary system complications are responsible for high mortality rates (4–6). If the patient is hemodynamically unstable the primary goals are to control airways, to establish adequate ventilati...

STUDY OBJECTIVE We sought to determine whether the reliability of clinical evaluation for pelvic bone fracture after trauma is compromised by a serum ethanol level of 100 mg/dL or greater. METHODS This is a retrospective case control study of trauma registry patients presenting from October 1, 1995, to March 31, 1997, to an urban level I trauma center. Inclusion criteria were as follows: blun...

BACKGROUND Pelvic fractures are often associated with major intraabdominal injuries or severe bleeding from the fracture site. OBJECTIVE To study the epidemiology of pelvic fractures and identify important risk factors for associated abdominal injuries, bleeding, need for angiographic embolization, and death. METHODS Trauma registry study on pelvic fractures from blunt trauma. Stepwise logi...

BACKGROUND There is controversy about the appropriate sequence of urologic investigation in patients with pelvic fracture. Use of retrograde urethrography or cystography may interfere with regular pelvic CT scanning for arterial extravasation. STUDY DESIGN We performed a retrospective study at a regional trauma center in Toronto, Canada. Included were adult blunt trauma patients with pelvic f...

Pelvic trauma can lead to severe, uncontrollable haemorrhage and death related to prolonged shock and multiple organ failure. Massive retroperitoneal haematoma should be assumed to be present in cases of post-traumatic haemodynamic instability associated with pelvic fracture in the absence of extrapelvic haemorrhagic lesions. This review describes the pathophysiology of retroperitoneal haematom...

The term 'severely injured patient' is often synonymous of polytrauma patient, multiply-injured patient or, in some settings, polyfractured patient. Together with brain trauma, copious bleeding is the most severe complication of polytrauma. Consequently hypotension develop. Then, the perfusion of organs may be compromised, with the risk of organ failure. Treatment of chest bleeding after trauma...

Elevated body mass index has been identified as a potential risk factor for complications in operatively treated pelvic trauma. Although obesity is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality following high-energy blunt force trauma, there is little information on the immediate complications following isolated pelvic and acetabular fractures in obese patients with trauma. The authors...

BACKGROUND Pelvic fracture is a severe and life-threatening injury that requires treatment by a dedicated team. One of the goals of a nationwide trauma system is to provide appropriate medical care for such injuries. OBJECTIVES To use pelvic fractures as a test case for the efficiency of the Israeli trauma system, as reflected in the experience of our medical center. METHODS Data were obtai...

Pelvic fractures range in severity from low-energy, generally benign lateral compression injuries to life-threatening, unstable fracture patterns. Initial management of severe pelvic fractures should follow Advanced Trauma Life Support protocols. Initial reduction of pelvic blood loss can be provided by binders, sheets, or some form of external fixation, which serve to reduce pelvic volume, sta...