[Pelvic trauma--a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge]

Patients with pelvic trauma often have other multiple injuries that cause special problems. Therefore a quick and thorough diagnosis as well as therapeutic management according to the special situation and findings is necessary. Effective cooperation of all the different specialists concerned with the treatment of the patient is mandatory. Massive blood loss immediately after trauma is life-threatening to the patient. To cope with bleeding, all non-invasive measures available should be used. Stable injuries of the pelvis are treated conservatively. In cases of instability external fixation of the pelvis is usually performed first. Change over to internal stabilisation and osteosynthesis should be tried as soon as possible. The different procedures for treatment are associated with specific risks and complications.