Pelvic fractures in a pediatric level I trauma center

Abstract

Objectives: Assess the characteristics associated with the risk of complications and mortality in children sustaining pelvic fractures.

Setting: Urban university pediatric Level I trauma center in a large metropolitan community.

Patients/participants: Retrospective analysis of 57 consecutive children with 66 pelvic fractures seen between 1993 and 1999.

Intervention: Fifty-two patients were treated nonoperatively, and five patients required operative stabilization (four acetabular fractures and one partial sacroiliac joint disruption).

Main outcome measure: Type and cause of pelvic fracture, type of management used, incidence of associated injuries, hemorrhage requiring transfusion, and mortality.

Results: Hemorrhage directly related to the pelvic fracture occurred in only one patient (2%), whereas 11 other patients required transfusions associated with other body-area injuries. Three patients with pelvic fractures died (5%), but deaths were due to other body-area injuries.

Conclusions: Children with pediatric pelvic fractures require careful evaluation for other body-area injuries, as these are most likely to be related to hemorrhage or mortality.