• Joerg H Holstein, Antonius Pizanis, Daniel Köhler, Tim Pohlemann, and Working Group Quality of Life After Pelvic Fractures.
• Department of Trauma, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Saarland, Kirrberger Strasse 1, 66421, Homburg, Germany. joerg.holstein@uks.eu
• Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. 2013 Sep 1; 471 (9): 2841-5.

BackgroundData from literature on predictors for patients' quality of life after pelvic ring fractures are conflicting and based on small study populations.Questions/PurposesWe therefore evaluated predictors for health-related quality of life in patients with pelvic ring injuries at a minimum of 1 year postfracture.MethodsWe surveyed 172 patients of the German Pelvic Trauma Registry admitted to four medical centers between February 3, 2004, and May 11, 2011. The median age of the followup cohort was 47 years (range, 8-88 years); 69 of 172 (40%) patients were female. Patients were characterized by a median Injury Severity Score of 17. There were 31 Tile Type A fractures (18%), 77 Type B fractures (45%), and 64 Type C fractures (37%). The incidence of complex fractures and multiple traumas was 34 of 172 (20%) and 116 of 172 (67%), respectively. One hundred twenty-five (73%) patients were treated operatively. We obtained the EQ-5D™ score to assess patients' health-related quality of life. For the analysis of predictors for quality of life, a multivariate linear regression model was built. The median followup was 3 years (range, 1-6 years).ResultsThe median EQ-5D™ score was 0.78 (interquartile limits, 0.63 and 1.00). Age, complex trauma, and surgery independently predicted the EQ-5D™ score.ConclusionsWe conclude patients with higher age, complex trauma, and surgery had a higher likelihood for a reduced quality of life after pelvic ring injuries.

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