Skin breakdown following circumferential pelvic antishock sheeting: a case report

Hemodynamic instability in the setting of high-energy blunt trauma is a challenging clinical scenario. Rapid provisional stabilization of the unstable pelvis is advisable because it reduces ongoing blood loss and pain by imparting bone and soft tissue stability as well as reducing pelvic volume. The use of a standard bed sheet has become a popular choice for achieving temporary stability of the pelvis through a technique that has been called circumferential pelvic antishock sheeting. Although we have found circumferential pelvic antishock sheeting to be a valuable tool in our institution, we describe a case of skin compromise that precluded complete internal fixation of a complex pelvic ring/acetabular fracture.