Treatment of Partial Traumatic Hemipelvectomy: A Study of 21 Cases

Partial traumatic hemipelvectomy (THP) is a catastrophic and life-threatening injury caused by high-energy impact. With advances in prehospital resuscitative techniques, more patients now survive this disastrous injury; however, the management of partial THP still lacks well-established therapeutic protocols. The purpose of this study was to present our experience in managing partial THP in a level-I trauma center.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 21 consecutive patients with partial THP. The key points of successful treatment are hemorrhage control, proper decision-making regarding amputation, treatment of associated injuries, and infection control. Data on patient demographics, injury characteristics, surgical management, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed.

Eight female and 13 male patients with a mean age of 31.3 years met the diagnostic criteria. The mean follow-up was 51.9 months. Of 17 surviving patients, 7 underwent primary amputation; limbs were successfully preserved in 4; and 6 patients underwent secondary amputation because of infection, organ dysfunction, and limb necrosis. Two patients died during resuscitation, and 2 patients died after amputation. Phantom limb pain, infection, and skin flap necrosis were the major postoperative complications.

THP requires cooperative multidisciplinary emergency diagnosis and treatment, early surgical intervention, and definitive treatment. Rapid resuscitation, adequate hemostasis, early amputation, and repeated debridement may improve survival.

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.