Does a prehospital applied pelvic binder improve patient survival?

Area of Science:

• Trauma Surgery
• Emergency Medicine
• Orthopedic Trauma

Background:

• Pelvic fractures are severe injuries requiring prompt medical intervention.
• Pelvic binders are crucial for managing pelvic injuries, particularly in prehospital settings.
• Effective application of pelvic binders is vital for optimal patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of prehospitally applied pelvic binders in improving outcomes for patients with pelvic fractures.
• To assess the impact of pelvic binder placement on survival rates in unstable pelvic ring fractures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 66 patients with unstable pelvic ring fractures (AO61B or 61C).
• Patients treated at a Level I hospital emergency room between January 2014 and December 2018.
• Analysis of pelvic binder application (ideal position, outside optimal range, or none) and its correlation with survival rates.

Main Results:

• The mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 21.9, with 60.3% of patients experiencing moderate to severe injuries.
• Pelvic binder usage did not significantly differ between injury severity groups.
• No significant difference in survival rates was observed between patients who received a pelvic binder (ideally placed or not) and those who did not.

Conclusions:

• Prehospital pelvic binders did not significantly impact survival rates for unstable pelvic fractures.
• Injury Severity Score (ISS) emerged as the strongest predictor of survival.
• Focus on assessing injury severity and managing hemorrhage remains paramount for patient survival.