Occult injuries of the pelvic ring

With major trauma to the pelvis, injuries at more than one site within the pelvic ring are common. However, minor injuries seem to result in isolated fractures most frequently of the pubic rami. By means of the bone scan we have demonstrated in 6 consecutive cases that these apparent isolated injuries are associated with disruptions elsewhere within the ring, usually the acetabulum or sacroiliac joints. This finding may explain the complaints of pain in the sacral region or about the hip in some patients following isolated fractures of the pubic rami.