Open Pelvic Ring Injury Following Childbirth Treated with External Fixation: A Case Report

Labor-induced pelvic injuries are uncommon but associated with significant morbidity. We present a case of a 39-year-old primigravida woman who sustained an intrapartum open pelvic ring injury during vaginal delivery. The patient was treated with irrigation and debridement, external fixation, and a short course of prophylactic antibiotics with good result.

Management of peripartum pelvic injuries should begin with standard trauma protocols for resuscitation. Surgical management is indicated for pelvic diastasis greater than 40 mm and for open injuries. Irrigation and debridement, followed by definitive fixation with an external fixator, is an effective treatment modality and avoids leaving implanted hardware.