B3 L35: Pelvic & Acetabular Fractures Flashcards
What are 5 functions of the pelvis?
- provide stability
- allow us to walk
- support in sitting
- large stable base of support (BOS)
- provide protection for all pelvic and abdominal structures (intestine, colon)
Is there a large or small amount of movement (nutation or counter-nutation) of the pelvis (sacroiliac joint)? What is the degree of movement?
Small amount of movement
2-3 degrees
Where is the pelvis mostly reinforced? Why?
Reinforced by ligaments, muscles POSTERIORLY
This is because this is where most force goes through (when WB)
What are the 3 parts of the bone that make up the coxa? Which part takes most the the weight during sitting?
- Ischium
- Pubis
- Ilium
What happens when there is a fracture of the pelvis? Be specific (2).
- Loss of stability
- Vertical instability (do not WB, flex/ext is fine) Rotational instability
What is the Young-Burgess system for pelvic fractures?
Classification system based on direction of force
What are the 4 classifications of a pelvis fracture in the Young-Burgess system?
- AP compression (APC)
- Lateral compression (LC)
- Vertical shear (VS)
- Combination
What are 2 features that AP compression (Young-Burgess system) fracture classified by?
- pubic diastases
- vertical #’s of pubic rami
What is the AP compression (Young-Burgess system) fracture caused by? Give 2 examples.
Caused by frontal collision (A-P force)
- Car vs pedestrian
- MB vs pole
What happens in an AP compression (Young-Burgess system) fracture? Where are 3 features of seperation/fracture?
- Hemipelvis bones seperated (due to direction)
- separation at pubic symphysis (PS), SIJ
- fracture through pubic rami
What are the 3 severity classifications (Young-Burgess system) of an AP compression pelvis fracture?
- APC 1
- APC 2
- APC 3
What are 3 characteristics of an APC 1 (pelvis fracture) based on the Young-Burgess system?
- Less than 2.5 cm of pubic diastases either at the symphysis or through vertically oriented rami fractures
- SI joints and posterior ligaments remain intact
- Stability is maintained (still have both vertical and rotational stability and no much restrictions)
How should an APC 1 (pelvis fracture) based on the Young-Burgess system be managed?
Conservatively
What are 4 characteristics of an APC 2 (pelvis fracture) based on the Young-Burgess system?
- Pubic diastases exceeds 2.5 cm
- Divergent SIJ widening
- Posterior ligaments disrupted except post SI ligament
- Rotationally unstable (which can cause further separation), vertically stable
What are 3 characteristics of an APC 3 (pelvis fracture) based on the Young-Burgess system?
- Uniform SIJ widening (>2.5cm)
- Complete posterior ligament disruption
- Vertically and rotationally unstable
In an AP compression pelvic fracture, what is the pubic diastasis in an APC 1,2 and 3?
APC 1: <2.5cm
APC 2: >2.5cm
APC 3: >2.5cm
In an AP compression pelvic fracture, are the posterior ligaments intact or disrupted in an APC 1,2 and 3?
APC 1: Intact
APC 2: Disrupted
APC 3: Disrupted
In an AP compression pelvic fracture, are the SIJ ligaments intact or disrupted in an APC 1,2 and 3?
APC 1: Intact
APC 2: Intact
APC 3: Disrupted
In an AP compression pelvic fracture, is the fracture stable in an APC 1,2 and 3? Be specific with vertical and rotational stability.
APC 1: Yes
APC 2: vertical- yes; rotational- no
APC 3: vertical- no; rotational- no
What are 2 features that lateral compression (Young-Burgess system) fracture classified by?
- horizontal pubic rami #’s
- locked symphasis
What is the AP compression (Young-Burgess system) fracture caused by? Give 2 examples.
Side on road accident or fall from height onto side
What are the 3 severity classifications (Young-Burgess system) of a lateral compression pelvis fracture?
- LC 1
- LC 2
- LC 3
What are 4 characteristics of a LC 1 (pelvis fracture) based on the Young-Burgess system?
- Ipsilateral anterior sacral impaction
- Ipsilateral horizontal pubic rami # (compressive force on SIJ = no contralateral effect)
- Posterior ligaments
- Pelvis stable
What are 4 characteristics of a LC 2 (pelvis fracture) based on the Young-Burgess system?
- Ipsilateral anterior sacral impaction
- Ipsilateral horizontal pubic rami fracture
- Ipsilateral fracture of iliac wing
- Pelvis rotationally unstable (flex/ext is not fine), vertically stable (WB is fine)
What are 3 characteristics of a LC 3 (pelvis fracture) based on the Young-Burgess system?
- Contralateral side effected, externally rotated (large enough to cause disruption)
- LC II injury + contralateral injuries
- Rotationally unstable, ? vertically stable/unstable (depend on how significant contralateral side..etc)
What are 4 characteristics of a vertical shear (VS) (pelvis fracture) based on the Young-Burgess system?
- One hemipelvis is displaced vertically
- Pubic symphasis separation or vertical pubic rami fractures
- Disruption to sacroiliac region
- Severe unstable injuries associated with soft tissue tearing & retroperitoneal bleeding (tearing of bladder and urethral structures)
What is a vertical shear (VS) (pelvis fracture) based on the Young-Burgess system caused by?
Fall from height onto 1 leg
What is the Bucholz Classification of pelvic fractures based on? What are 2 reasons why this classification is used?
assessment of stability
- Instability is secondary to bony and ligamentous disruption of the pelvic ring
- Degree of ligamentous disruption is a key to stability because fracture alone will not produce instability without associated displacement and ligamentous disruption.
Instability is secondary to ___ and _____ disruption of the pelvic ring
bony; ligamentous
Degree of ______ disruption is a key to stability because fracture alone will not produce instability without associated displacement and _____ disruption.
ligamentous; ligamentous
What is the benefit of the Bucholz Classification of pelvic fractures?
Very quick to assess and classify
What is the disadvantage of the Bucholz Classification of pelvic fractures?
Not very specific
What are the 3 severities of pelvic fractures in the Bucholz Classification?
- Type I
- Type II
- Type III
What are 2 characteristics of a type II pelvic fracture in the Bucholz Classification?
- Anterior fracture, partial disruption of posterior SI ligaments
- Stable fracture, able to WB Type
What are 2 characteristics of a type I pelvic fracture in the Bucholz Classification?
- Anterior instability &partial posterior instability
- Unstable fracture, ligaments intact
What is a characteristic of a type III pelvic fracture in the Bucholz Classification?
Complete anterior & posterior instability
What is the Tile Classification of pelvic fractures?
Most simplistic view of classification
What are the 3 severities of pelvic fractures in the Tile Classification?
- Type A
- Type B
- Type C
What is a characteristic of a type A pelvic fracture in the Tile Classification?
Stable
What are 2 characteristic of a type B pelvic fracture in the Tile Classification?
- Rotationally unstable
- vertically stable