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Small bowel obstruction in percutaneous fixation of traumatic pelvic fractures

Roberto Bini1, Fabrizio Quiriconi, Tiziana Viora

  • 1Department of General and Emergency Surgery, SG Bosco Hospital, 10153 Turin, Italy.

Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock
|August 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Bowel entrapment in pelvic fractures is a rare but fatal complication. Early diagnosis and investigation are crucial for patients with persistent ileus or sepsis after pelvic fracture treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Trauma Surgery
  • Orthopedic Surgery
  • Gastrointestinal Surgery

Background:

  • External fixation is a common initial treatment for unstable pelvic injuries.
  • Bowel entrapment within pelvic fractures is a rare but life-threatening complication.
  • Diagnosis can be challenging, often mistaken for adynamic ileus.

Observation:

  • A polytrauma patient with pelvic fractures developed intestinal obstruction post-external fixation.
  • Exploratory laparotomy revealed ileum entrapment within a sacral fracture.

Findings:

  • Sacral fracture-associated bowel entrapment is exceedingly rare.
  • Delayed diagnosis of bowel entrapment can lead to sepsis and mortality.

Implications:

  • Clinicians and radiologists must consider bowel entrapment in patients with pelvic fractures and persistent ileus or sepsis.
  • Early diagnostic investigations are essential to rule out bowel entrapment.
  • Awareness of this complication can improve patient outcomes in trauma care.

Keywords:
Bowel entrapmentexternal fixatorpelvic injury

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