The Orthopedic clinics of North America
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The application of external fixation for acute treatment of unstable pelvic fractures can be a lifesaving procedure; however, it must be coordinated with other efforts of the trauma team. The patient with a pelvic fracture must be adequately resuscitated and carefully evaluated. ⋯ A proper evaluation enables classification of the pelvic injury and appropriate selection of patients that require acute pelvic external fixation. In this article, both open and percutaneous techniques for pin placement and fixator frame configurations are discussed.
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Orthop. Clin. North Am. · Jul 1997
ReviewAssessment and management of pelvic fracture in the hemodynamically unstable patient.
Hypotensive patients with pelvic ring injuries present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. This article reviews pelvic anatomy, the classification of pelvic injuries, and how to rapidly identify patients' unstable pelvic injuries. Current recommendations for the evaluation and treatment of these patients are reviewed.
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Orthop. Clin. North Am. · Jul 1997
Multicenter StudyOpen pelvic fractures. A multicenter retrospective analysis.
A marked discrepancy exists in the reported mortality rates in patients with open pelvic fractures, ranging from 4.8% to 50%. A retrospective review of patients with open pelvic fractures was performed at three centers. Thirty-nine patients with open pelvic fractures were identified; the average age was 32. ⋯ Delay in performing diverting colostomy correlated with a poor outcome. Previously described methods of treatment are still valid; however, there is a need for re-emphasis of early diverting colostomy in the patient with a rectal or perineal injury. A classification system for open pelvic fractures is proposed in this article.