Pelvic fractures: part 2. Contemporary indications and techniques for definitive surgical management

Once the patient with pelvic fracture is resuscitated and stabilized, definitive surgical management and anatomic restoration of the pelvic ring become the goal. Understanding injury pattern by stress examination with the patient under anesthesia helps elucidate the instability. Early fixation of the unstable pelvis is important for mobilization, pain control, and prevention of chronic instability or deformity. Current pelvic fracture management employs a substantial amount of percutaneous reduction and fixation, with less emphasis placed on pelvic reconstruction proceeding from posterior to anterior, and most reduction and fixation of unstable pelvic fractures done with the patient supine. Compared with control subjects with acetabular fracture or pelvic fracture alone, patients with combined injury have a significantly higher Injury Severity Score, lower systolic blood pressure, and higher mortality rates; they are also transfused more packed red blood cells. Even with anatomic restoration of the pelvis, long-term outcomes after severe pelvic trauma are below population norms. The most common chronic problems relate to sexual dysfunction and pain. Regardless of fracture type, neurologic injury is a universal harbinger of poor outcome.