Trauma - Pelvis/Acetabulum (Complete) Flashcards
What is the clinical evaluation of a pelvic fracture?
[CORR trauma]
- ATLS
- Observation
- Open
- Blood at the meatus
- Morell-Lavalle
- Pelvis stability
- LLD
- Rectal exam
- Blood
- Tone
- High riding prostate
- Distal NV exam
When and how is a retrograde urethrogram performed?
- Insert foley catheter ~2cm into urethra
- Inflate balloon ~2-3mL of water
- Stretch penis to straighten and hold glans to maintain catheter in place
- Inject 20-30mL of water soluble contrast dye taking an xray after each 10mL
- If demonstrates intact urethra the balloon is deflated then advanced into the bladder and reinflated
- To perform cystogram:
- Inject 300mL of diluted contrast dye (1:1 with saline)
- Clamp the catheter and obtain xray
- Drain the bladder completely and repeat xray
- Alternative to bedside cystogram is a CT cystogram
- Does not require draining bladder
- Abnormal retrograde urethrogram
- Extravasation or urethral occlusion
- Consult urology
- Abnormal cystogram
- Extravasation
- Intraperitoneal extravasation
- Requires surgery
- Extraperitoneal extravasation
- Requires bladder decompression with foley
- Intraperitoneal extravasation

In cases of open pelvis fractures, what additional surgical procedure needs to be considered?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
Diverting colostomy – 50% death rate if not done
What are the recommended routine radiographs for a pelvis fracture?
[J Orthop Trauma 2014;28:48–56]
- AP pelvis
- Inlet
- Outlet views
How do you obtain an inlet and outlet view?
[J Orthop Trauma 2014;28:48–56]
- Traditionally:
- Inlet - 45 degree caudal tilt
- Outlet - 45 degree cranial tilt
- Current recommendation:
- Inlet - 25 caudal tilt
- Outlet - 60 degree cranial tilt

What are the options for external fixation for pelvis fractures and how do you insert the pins?
[J Orthop Trauma 2014;28:48–56]
- Iliac crest/wing external fixation pins
* Start point- 3-4cm posterior to the ASIS centred between the inner and outer tables
* Fluoro image used: - Obturator outlet view
* Pin direction - Superior to inferior directed towards the supraacetabular bone
- 3-4cm posterior to the ASIS centred between the inner and outer tables
- Supraacetabular external fixation pins
- Start point
- Center of the teardrop visualized on obturator outlet view
- At least 2cm above superior acetabulum
- Fluoro image used:
- Obturator outlet view for start point
- And for visualization of pin along its entire length between inner and outer tables
- Iliac oblique view for depth and to ensure ~1-2cm above sciatic notch
- OO (start)–>IO (length/location)–>OO (trajectory)
- Obturator outlet view for start point
- Pin direction
- AIIS to PIIS

What are the advantages and disadvantages of supraacetabular ex-fix pins (Hannover technique)?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
Advantages
- Pins are out of the way of abdominal procedures
- Two pins are sufficient (one on either side)
- Fixation is excellent
- Allows for direction of closure of open book injury in the same plane
- Biomechanically superior in resisting rotational forces and equal control of flexion/extension forces compared to iliac crest pins
Disadvantages
- More dependent on fluoro
How do you classify pelvic fractures?
[JAAOS 2013;21:448-457]
- Young-Burgess Classification
- Lateral compression (LC)
- LC-I
- Pubic rami fracture + sacral ala buckle fracture
- LC-II
- Pubic rami fracture + crescent fracture
- LC-III
- Windswept pelvis
- ***NOTE: pubic rami fracture is horizontal
- LC-I
- Anterior-Posterior compression (APC)
- APC-I
- Widening of the pubic symphysis <2.5cm
- APC-II
- Widening of the pubic symphysis >2.5cm + widening of anterior SI
- Posterior SI remains aligned
- Widening of the pubic symphysis >2.5cm + widening of anterior SI
- APC-III
- Complete disruption of the posterior pelvis
- Anterior and posterior SI joint disruption OR nonimpacted posterior fracture
- Complete disruption of the posterior pelvis
- APC-I
- Vertical shear (VS)
- Vertical displacement of a hemipelvis with complete disruption of the SI ligaments or a fracture through the sacrum or ilium
- Combined
2. Tile classification [Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015] - Type A – Pelvic Ring Stable
- A1
- Fractures not involving the ring
- Eg. avulsion, iliac wing or crest fractures
- Fractures not involving the ring
- A2
- Stable minimally displaced fractures of the pelvic ring
- A1
- Type B – Pelvic Ring Rotationally Unstable, Vertically Stable
- B1
- Open book
- B2
- Lateral compression, ipsilateral
- B3
- Lateral compression, contralateral, or bucket handle-type injury
- B1
- Type C – Pelvic Ring Rotationally Unstable and Vertically Unstable
- C1 = unilateral
- C2 = bilateral
- C3 = associated acetabular fracture

What radiographic feature has been described as a ‘sentinel sign’ of a vertical shear injury?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
L5 transverse process fracture
What is considered pathognomonic radiographic feature for lateral compression injuries?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
Rami fractures in the transverse plane on the inlet view

In a hypotensive patient with a pelvic ring fracture and no other sources of hemorrhage, what options should be considered to control the bleeding?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
- Stabilization of unstable pelvic ring fractures
- Traction
- Pelvic binder
- External fixation
- Military antishock trousers
- Angiographic embolization
* Consider when contrast extravasation evident on CT - Retroperitoneal pelvic packing
What vessels are most commonly involved in arterial bleeds associated with pelvic ring fractures?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
Branches of the internal iliac
- Superior gluteal artery
- Lateral sacral
- Internal pudendal
- Inferior gluteal
- Obturator artery
What are indications for nonoperative management of pelvic ring fractures?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
- Stable pelvic ring fractures
- Stable sacral fractures
- Comorbidities precluding surgery
- Poor bone quality where screw purchase may be problematic
- Low-energy osteoporotic pelvic ring fracture
What are indications for anterior pelvis ring stabilization?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
- >2.5cm of symphysis diastasis on either static or dynamic (EUA) imaging
- Augment posterior fixation in VS fractures
- Augmentation of posterior fixation in completely unstable pelvic fractures
- Augmentation of posterior fixation in osteopenic bone
- Significantly displaced rami fractures
- Locked symphysis
- Straddle fractures
- Pain and inability to mobilize (relative)
What are relative indications for posterior pelvic ring stabilization?
- Complete disruption of the SI joint
* Anterior and posterior SI ligaments - Vertical displacement
- Displaced crescent fractures
* Iliac wing fractures that enter and exit both crest and greater sciatic notch or SI joint - Displaced sacral fracture
- Complete sacral fractures with potential for displacement
- Lumbopelvic disassociation

What is the mainstay of anterior approaches for internal fixation of the pelvis?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
Pfannenstiel incision
- Transverse incision 2cm above pubic symphysis
- Length is from one external inguinal canal to the other
- Allows identification and protection of spermatic cord/round ligament
- Linea alba is then split longitudinally
- Symphysis and pubic bodies are exposed
- Carefully separate the bladder from the posterior pubis and protect with a large malleable retractor
What are indications for surgical fixation of pubic rami fractures?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
- Rami fractures associated with vertical shear injury
- Augmentation of posterior fixation when there is considerable instability
What are the surgical options for pubic rami fractures?
- Pelvic reconstruction plates
- Ex-fix
- Antegrade or retrograde percutaneous screw fixation
When should an antegrade screw be chosen over a retrograde screw for fixation of pubic rami fractures?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
- When the fracture is:
- Lateral, near the pubic root
- In the middle of the ramus
- If the patient is morbidly obese
***Retrograde screws are for medially based fractures
What structures are at risk when placing a percutaneous screw for pubic rami fixation?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
- External iliac vessels (superior)
- Acetabulum (inferior)
- Bladder (deep)
- Corona mortis (deep)
What are the important technical points for antegrade percutaneous screw fixation for pubic rami fractures?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
- Screw type
* Cannulated partially threaded 6.5 or 7.3mm screw - Start point
* Midpoint on a line drawn between the tip of the GT and a spot about 4cm posterior to ASIS - Fluoro views used
* Obturator outlet view and inlet view to confirm within bone
What are the important technical points for retrograde percutaneous screw fixation for pubic rami fractures?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
- Screw type
- 3.5 or 4.5 screw in AO lag screw fashion
- Or 6.5 or 7.3mm cannulated partially threaded screw
- Start point
* Incision made over contralateral pubic tubercle with blunt dissection towards ipsilateral pubic tubercle - Fluoro views used
* Obturator outlet view and inlet view to confirm within bone
How are LC-2 crescent fractures subclassified and what are the surgical options?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
SI joint is divided into thirds (Day classification)
- Type I
- Anterior third
- Pelvic recon plates and lag screws
- Anterior approach
- Or LC-II screw
- Same path as supraacetabular ex-fix pin
- Type II
- Middle third
- Lag screws from PIIS directed toward sciatic buttress +/- recon plate for neutralization
- Posterior approach
- Type III
- Posterior third
- Lag screw (posterior approach) and SI screw
***Note = the crescent fragment is considered the ‘constant fragment’ and the ilium should be reduced to it

Successful closed reduction of an SI joint dislocation is required for percutaneous SI screw placement, what techniques can be used to obtain the closed reduction?
[Rockwood and Green 8th ed. 2015]
- IRTOTLE technique
* Internal rotation and taping of the lower extremities - Sheet wrapped at level of GTs
- Sheet wrapped around pelvis with holes cut for screw placement



























