Pelvis

Abstract

Since the second edition of this book was published a decade ago, traumatic disruption of the pelvic ring has become a major focus of interest. Previously, conventional orthopedic wisdom held that surviving patients with disruption of the pelvic ring had few long-term problems following a musculoskeletal injury. However, more recent evidence indicates that patients with an unstable pelvic ring disruption may benefit from operative fixation. Stabilization may also be important for the survival of the patient, as has been proven for fractures of the femur, and it can also improve the long-term functional results of these pelvic injuries. These are serious injuries with an associated mortality rate of more than 10%, with 4% of this total due to pelvic hemorrhage. Retroperitoneal hemorrhage associated with pelvic trauma remains a difficult management problem. Hence the inclusion in this third edition of a chapter on fractures of the pelvis.