Pelvic fractures are rare but potentially devastating injuries. An understanding of the bony and peripelvic anatomy along with common patterns and the classification of the injury are of critical importance in their management. These form the basis for a general treatment algorithm for pelvic fracture patients. Angiographic embolization is time-consuming and often delayed. Hemodynamic instability with unstable pelvic fracture is therefore best approached with a combination of pelvic emergency stabilization (C-clamp) and surgical hemostasis by pelvic tamponade. This is especially true for critically injured patients in extremis.
Trauma is the leading cause of death in children. Pelvic ring injuries account for 0.3-4% of all paediatric injuries. The pattern of fractures differs to that seen in adults as it is more ductile. Pelvic ring injuries tend to be more stable as the relatively thick periosteum restricts bony displacement. Intrapelvic viscera are not well protected and can sustain injury in the absence of pelvic fractures. These injuries have traditionally been treated non-operatively. In this paper, we comprehensively review the literature and propose a protocol for treatment taking into consideration associated organ injuries, hemodynamic status of the patient, patient's age, type of fracture and the stability of the pelvic ring.
There was a high incidence of heterotopic ossification around those joints that were initially classified as uninjured in patients without head trauma. This finding suggests that pathogenic pathways independent of head trauma, such as long-term ventilation, play a main role. Causative factors for the development of heterotopic ossification at initially uninjured joints in long-term ventilated patients with multiple trauma with and without head trauma remain to be elucidated.
Objective: Closed reduction and maintenance of pelvic ring injuries by external stabilization. Indications: Emergency management of unstable type B and type C pelvic ring fractures. Definitive treatment of type B injuries. Definitive treatment of the anterior pelvic ring in type C injuries with transpubic instability after posterior internal stabilization. Adjunct stabilization of internal fixation. Stabilization of pelvic ring fractures in children.
Contraindications: Poor general condition.Local soft-tissue damage. Local infection. Surgical Technique: Bilateral percutaneous insertion of Schanz screws into the supraacetabular area of iliac bone. Closed reduction and stabilization of the pelvic ring by compression and application of a connecting rod under image intensification. Postoperative Management: Depending on the patient's condition and the degree of pelvic instability, a change to an open procedure may become necessary. Mobilization of the patient with partial weight bearing (one fifth of body weight) on the side of the injured posterior pelvic ring using forearm crutches, irrespective of the degree of stability of the pelvis. Results: Retrospective analysis of 64 supraacetabular external fixator applications to stabilize the anterior pelvic ring in 20 type B and 44 type C injuries. Iatrogenic lesions of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: 4.5%; all sensory disturbances completely reversed within 1 year. No pin site infection. In two patients (3%) primary perforation of the Schanz screw into the small pelvis not necessitating any treatment.No secondary displacements of the anterior or posterior pelvic ring in type B injuries nor for type C injuries, sacral fractures associated with fractures of the pubic ramus. One pseudarthrosis of the pubic and ischial rami requiring surgical treatment.
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