Blunt pelvic injury

Life-threatening complex pelvic fractures are commonly associated with vast peripelvine soft-tissue injuries and hemorrhage. Correct assessment and classification of the existing pelvic trauma and additional severe injuries present is required for accurate diagnosis and effective therapy. Treatment of the usually multiply injured patient is time-sensitive. The circulatory situation is the benchmark for diagnostic and therapeutic actions. Emergency stabilization of an initially unstable pelvic ring should be done first, followed by an extraperitoneal tamponade, if needed to control bleeding. The positive results of these actions can be measured by hemodynamic parameters. Delayed definitive internal stabilization of the anterior and/or posterior pelvic ring is then performed according to the fracture classification.