Pelvic fractures: an anatomic guide to severity of injury

Classifications in Brief: Young and Burgess Classification of Pelvic Ring Injuries

“…Location and magnitude of the applied force, either high or low energy, have been recognized as important factors responsible for pelvic injuries [6,7]. Stability of the ring also was identified as a critical component of pelvic ring management [10]. Pennal et al [14] were the first to systematically describe the force vector responsible for pelvic ring injury as AP compression (APC), lateral compression (LC), or vertical shear (VS).…”

Guidelines for the management of haemodynamically unstable pelvic fracture patients

“…Bleeding from long bone fractures is present in approximately 40% of cases and is usually a contributer, but not a major ongoing cause of blood loss. 17,35,36 A CXR, taken within 10 min of the patient's arrival, will show intrathoracic haemorrhage. 37 This is present in 4-29% of cases.…”

“…37 This is present in 4-29% of cases. 17,[35][36][37] A small haemothorax can be initially missed in 18% of nonsurviving patients. 38 A large haemothorax should be evident.…”

“…7,11,12,17,21,25,35,36 If intra-abdominal injuries are found to be present, in order of frequency, the organs causing haemorrhage are the spleen (22%), the liver (20%), the bladder (15%), the bowel mesentery (10%), renal injury (7%) and diaphragmatic tears (4%). The remaining 22% represent intraperitoneal injuries not associated with haemodynamic instability.…”

“…The remaining 22% represent intraperitoneal injuries not associated with haemodynamic instability. 9,10,17,25,35,36 Investigations Diagnostic peritoneal aspiration 44 and FAST are the preferred diagnostic means to determine if there is intra-abdominal bleeding. 10,20,21 Diagnostic peritoneal aspiration is limited to the first step of diagnostic peritoneal lavage (DPL) and is positive if more than 10 ml of frank blood is aspirated.…”