Adult pelvic fractures; epidemiology, classification, diagnostics and treatment

Jerzy Kiszka
Krzysztof Gutkowski
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Z Wojewódzkiej Stacji Pogotowia Ratunkowego w Rzeszowie
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Teaching Hospital No 1 in Rzeszow, Rzeszow, Poland

Abstract

Pelvis fractures create the very important medical problem because mortality rate is as high as 10 to 16 percent and about half of patients with pelvis injuries require operative treatment. This category includes pelvic ring fractures, acetabular fractures, and avulsion injuries. The majority of pelvis injuries are caused by high energy blunt trauma, include motor vehicle collisions and pedestrians struck by a motor vehicle, although elderly patients may sustain such injuries from a low energy mechanism. High energy trauma apart from pelvic fractures, increases the likelihood of concomitant injuries of pelvic viscera associated frequently with threatening hemorrhage. Physical examination, ultrasound and plane x-ray exam are used in diagnostics. Computer tomography is the gold standard for the evaluation of all hemodynamically stable patients. Pelvic fractures should be immobilized using either a sheet or a commercial pelvic binder wrapped circumferentially around the greater trochanters. In this review we discuss an issue of adult pelvic fractures with special attention paid o epidemiology, classification, diagnostics and treatment options.

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