Emergency management of hemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures

Pelvic fractures are serious injuries. Death within 24 hours is most often a result of acute blood loss. The emergency management of these patients is challenging and controversial. The key issues in its management are identifying the site(s) of hemorrhage and then controlling the bleeding. Management of hemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic fracture requires a multidisci- plinary team. The issues addressed in this management algorithm are diagnostic evaluation, damage control resuscitation, indications for noninvasive pelvic stabilization, preperitoneal pelvic packing and the critical decisions concerning surgical options and angiography. This review article focuses on the recent body of know- ledge on those determinations.