[Injuries of the pelvic bone and lower urinary pathways]

We are all witness of the rapid tempo of our life styles made possible by recent advances in modern technology. The powerful, fast automobiles used in our society are an important contributing factor in trauma and polytrauma. Etiology of injuries therefore are changing before our eyes. Based on statistics of the hospital taken on a series of 753 polytraumatized cases during 1961--1967, the most common etiological factor was automobile accidents. According to predictions for 1977, in Serbia there will be 70,000--105,000 injuries resulting from automobile accidents. 7,000 of these injuries will result in death, 36,000 will be severe injuries, and 62,000 will be minor injuries. These are frightening statistics, and further comment is not needed. Until recently, the principle cause of pelvic trauma was falling from high heights. However, today, statistics show that 60%--80% of all pelvic fractures occur in automobile accidents, only 19% are caused by falls, and 6.4% by industrial accidents. This illustrates the trastic change in etiology of fractures of the pelvis and trauma of the lower urinary pathways.