Contributor: Peter Bakes, MD

Educational Pearls:

• Pelvis is comprised of the iliac, ischium, and sacrum
• Three mechanisms for pelvic fractures by Young-Burgess Classification
• • Anterior-posterior compression causing open-book pelvic fractures that can be complicated by retroperitoneal bleeding or urethral injury
  • Lateral compression causing rami fractures
  • Vertical sheer causing offset of sacroiliac joint or sacrum
• Mechanically stable pelvic ring fractures can be conservatively treated with weight bearing as tolerated
• Unstable fractures and those with complications will require operative fixation

References

Davis DD, Foris LA, Kane SM, et al. Pelvic Fracture. [Updated 2021 Feb 10]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2021 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430734/

Weatherford B. Pelvic Ring Fractures. OrthoBullets. Updated 25 May 2021. https://www.orthobullets.com/trauma/1030/pelvic-ring-fractures

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