What is the most common type of pelvic fracture?
Young-Burgess classification The most common force type, lateral compression (LC) forces, from side-impact automobile accidents and pedestrian injuries, can result in an internal rotation. The superior and inferior pubic rami may fracture anteriorly, for example.
What is an open pelvic fracture?
Open pelvic fractures are usually the result of a high energy transfer, and convey a high morbidity and mortality. A defined resuscitation and fixation strategy improves outcome from historical reports. Injuries from penetrating mechanisms are associated with less morbidity and lower mortality.
What does pelvic fracture mean?
A pelvis fracture is a break of the ring of bones that connect your spine to the hips. These fractures usually result from high energy injuries such as car accidents or falls from a height in younger patients and most often from falls in the elderly patient.
Is a pelvic fracture the same as a hip fracture?
A hip fracture is a break in the upper thigh bone (femur) that forms the hip joint. A pelvic fracture can happen anywhere in the pelvic bone. Fractures of the hips and pelvis are not often seen in children unless a severe injury (such as a car crash) has occurred.
Is pelvic fracture serious?
Pelvic rings often break in more than one place. A mild fracture (such as may happen from the impact of jogging) may heal in several weeks without surgery. However, a serious pelvic fracture can be life-threatening and may involve damage to the organs the pelvis protects.
Can a fractured pelvis heal itself?
Most pelvic fractures heal on their own. The local tissues in the area of the fracture frequently keep the fracture pieces in order and the bones heal with a little rest and good nutrition.
What can be done for a fractured pelvis?
Treatment depends on how bad the injury is. With a minor fracture, the most common treatment is bed rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications or prescription painkillers. Physical therapy, the use of crutches and, rarely, surgery may be recommended. Healing can take eight to 12 weeks.
What is a pelvic fracture in the elderly?
A pelvic fracture is a crack or break in one or more bones in the pelvis. These types of fractures can cause pain and difficulty walking or standing; some may also cause bleeding from pelvic cavities due to the fracture’s close proximity to major blood vessels, and difficulty urinating.
What happens when you fracture your pelvis?
Major and unstable pelvic fractures are likely to cause severe pain and shock. Pain may be in the pelvis, groin, back, tummy (abdomen), or down the legs. The pelvic bones are large and have a rich blood supply, so when broken they will bleed heavily and the bleeding will not stop quickly.
Can you fully recover from a fractured pelvis?
Healing can take eight to 12 weeks. Severe injuries to the pelvis that involve several breaks can be life-threatening. Shock, extensive internal bleeding and internal organs damage may be involved. The immediate goal is to control bleeding and stabilize the injured person’s condition.
How do you fix a fractured pelvis?
You may have had surgery to repair your pelvis, depending on where it was broken and how bad the break was. Your doctor may have put metal screws, pins, or a rod in your pelvis to fix the break. In some cases, surgery is not needed. While your pelvis heals, you will need to keep weight off the hips.
How painful is a fractured pelvis?
A fractured pelvis is almost always painful. This pain is aggravated by moving the hip or attempting to walk. Often, the patient will try to keep his or her hip or knee bent in a specific position to avoid aggravating the pain. Some patients may experience swelling or bruising in the hip area.
Will a pelvic fracture eventually heal itself?
Most pelvic fractures heal on their own. The local tissues in the area of the fracture frequently keep the fracture pieces in order and the bones heal with a little rest and good nutrition. This tends to occur a little more slowly in older people, but the same cells that heal fractures when you are young do the same when you are older.
What is the normal treatment of a pelvic fracture?
Treatment for a pelvic fracture varies depending on the severity of the injury. While lower-energy fractures can often be managed with conservative care, treatment for high-energy pelvic fractures usually involves surgery to reconstruct the pelvis and restore stability so that patients can resume their daily activities.
How long does it take for a pelvic fracture to heal?
Pelvic fractures usually start to heal about four weeks after the fracture. Some patients may notice less pain as soon as a few days after a fracture, depending on the severity of the fracture, but most patients take pain medication for four to six weeks after the injury. In terms of activity, patients can be bedbound for days or up to a week.
Does a fractured pelvis require surgery?
Surgery is often required for pelvic fractures. Many methods of pelvic stabilization are used including external fixation or internal fixation and traction. There are often other injuries associated with a pelvic fracture so the type of surgery involved must be thoroughly planned.