[Damage control in long bones and pelvis in the Mexican Red Cross Trauma Center]

Multiple injured patients account for some of the biggest and most complex problems a trauma surgeon has to face in his daily routine; thus, applying orthopedic damage control (DCO) is important. Multiple injured patients treated at the Medical Red Cross Medical Trauma Center were reviewed, in the period comprised between June 2006 and July 2007. One-hundred cases with long bone and pelvis fractures, ranging between 10 and 75 years old, 21 women (21%) and 79 men (79%); the most common trauma mechanism was patients falling from a height above 2 meters (33%). The most frequently affected bone was the femur with 43 fractures AO32B. The most common open fracture was that of the tibia the (18 IIIB AO 42B). Six amputations were carried out, most commonly CDO used was external fixation (44), cases of fat embolism (2) deceased (3). The results were satisfactory with the usage of DCO.