Pelvic Fracture

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Pelvic Fracture

Definition
Causes
Risk Factors
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prevention
Resources

A pelvic fracture is defined as one or more breaks of the bones of the pelvis. This is a serious condition that requires immediate medical care.

Pelvic fractures are caused by:

Falls
High velocity impacts to the body, such as motorcycle or car accidents

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease or condition. The following risk factors increase your chance of developing pelvic fractures:

History of falls
Osteoporosis
Decreased muscle strength

Symptoms of a pelvic fracture include:

Pelvic pain
Pain upon walking, or inability to walk
History of trauma in young children

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. You may be referred to a doctor who is a trauma specialist and/or a doctor who is a bone specialist. If you are in a car accident, you will probably be taken to a hospital emergency room. Your bodily fluids may be tested. This can be done with:

Blood tests
Urine tests

Your bodily structures may need to be viewed. This can be done with:

X-rays
CT scan (CAT scan)
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
Abdominal ultrasound
Urethrography
Arteriography

If diagnosed with a pelvic fracture, your physician may refer you to physical therapy. Physical therapy will focus on increasing range of motion, strength, and improving stabilization and functional integration.

Range of Motion

Following a period of immobilization to allow the bone to heal, the physical therapist may help you recover range of motion. The therapist will design a stretching and flexibility program that will allow you to bend, straighten and rotate your lower extremity through an increasing range. The therapist may also incorporate the use of specific manual therapy techniques to improve muscle tone, pliability and joint mechanics as well as use modalities to control pain and associated inflammation.

Strength

As range of motion progresses, the therapist will begin to work on increasing your strength the lower body and core. Typically, exercises will start with simple muscle contractions and become more advanced as you become stronger.

Stabilization and Functional Integration

Stabilization and functional activity integration represent the final phases of rehabilitation. The therapist will create specific protocols to retrain focus on the activities you enjoyed prior to the injury. Exercises will focus on continued strength and endurance as well as controlled use of the injured area, recreating balance and awareness in the body.

To help reduce the chance of getting pelvic fractures, take the following steps:

Prevent falls by using a stable stool or stepladder to reach high places. Add handrails along stairways and place nonslip mats in the bathroom, shower, and under carpets.
Lower the chance of injuries due to car and motorcycle accidents by always wearing your seatbelt. Never drive if you have been drinking, and don’t ride with anyone else who has been.
Always use safety precautions to avoid falls during high-risk sports, such as rock climbing and mountaineering.
Maintain muscle strength, which will help to prevent falls.

This content was created using EBSCO's Health Library

RESOURCES:

American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons

http://orthoinfo.aaos.org

The American Pediatric Surgical Association, Resources for Parents

http://www.pediatricsurgerymd.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Orthopaedic Association

http://www.coa-aco.org

Women's Health Matters

http://www.womenshealthmatters.ca

REFERENCES:

Collinge C, Tornetta P III. Soft tissue injuries associated with pelvic fractures. Orthop Clin North Am. 2004;35(4):451-456.
Femoral shaft fracture. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed . Updated March 12, 2013. Accessed August 22, 2013.
Frakes MA, Evans T. Major pelvic fractures. Crit Care Nurse. 2004 Apr;24(2):18-30.
Grotz MR, Allami MK, Harwood P, et al. Open pelvic fractures: epidemiology, current concepts of management and outcome. Injury. 2005;36(1):1-13.
Mohanty K, Musso D, Powell JN, Kortbeek JB, Kirkpatrick AW. Emergent management of pelvic ring injuries: an update. Can J Surg. 2005;48(1):49-56.
Quick TJ, Eastwood DM. Pediatric fractures and dislocations of the hip and pelvis. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2005;(432):87-96.
Tornetta P III, Templeman DC. Expected outcomes after pelvic ring injury. Instr Course Lect. 2005;54:401-407.

This content was created using EBSCO’s Health Library

A Look at Treatment

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Pelvic Fracture

Range of Motion

Strength

Stabilization and Functional Integration

This content was created using EBSCO's Health Library

RESOURCES:

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

REFERENCES:

A Look at Treatment