Bladder deformity accompanied by pelvic fracture indirectly indicates clinical severity

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Urology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Bladder compression by extraperitoneal hematoma is known in gynecologic and obstetric conditions.
• Clinical significance of bladder compression from pelvic fractures (PF) remains underreported.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively investigate the clinical features and significance of bladder compression induced by pelvic fractures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 147 emergency outpatients with PF diagnosed via CT scan (January 2018 - December 2021).
• Patients categorized into 'Deformity' (bladder compressed by hematoma) and 'Normal' groups.
• Comparison of clinical variables, including vital signs, injury severity, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• The Deformity group (44 patients) showed significantly lower systolic blood pressure.
• The Deformity group had higher respiratory rate, injury severity score, unstable circulation, transfusion rates, and hospitalization duration.
• No significant differences in sex, age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), or final outcome were observed.

Conclusions:

• Bladder deformity in PF patients is a poor physiological sign.
• Associated with severe anatomical abnormalities, unstable circulation requiring transfusion, and prolonged hospitalization.
• Physicians should assess bladder shape in patients with pelvic fractures.