Surgical management of complications of open pelvic injuries
Smektala, R.; Hahn, M.P.; Henkel, M.; Muhr, G.
Zentralblatt für Chirurgie 120(11): 893-898
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-409X PMID: 8533485 Document Number: 453820
Open pelvic fractures are rare fractures usually resulting from a severe trauma. Only 4 of 121 patients treated operatively in 1994 for a pelvic trauma showed an open injury. The high lethality is caused by two complications: in the early phase the patient is threatened by bleeding to death and in the following course sepsis determines the lethal outcome. Only an aggressive surgical management prevents or treats such complications. The presented concept comprises in the end the hemipelvectomy and an intensive care management for prophylaxis of septic complications. So the lethality was diminished.