Citation

Guerra MR, Braga SR, Akkari M, Santili C. Acta Ortop. Bras. 2016; 24(3): 155-158.

Affiliation

. Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Sociedade Brasileira de Ortopedia e Traumatologia)

DOI

10.1590/1413-785220162403157540

PMID

27217818

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the importance of pelvic fractures in childhood by analyzing epidemiological characteristics and associated injuries.

METHODS: This is a retrospective study performed between 2002 and 2012 at two trauma referral centers in São Paulo. We identified 25 patients aged 16 years old or younger with pelvic fracture.

RESULTS: The main mechanism of trauma was traffic accident (80%), followed by fall from height (16%). At hospital admission, 92% had traumatic brain injury and 40% had hemodynamic instability. Besides pelvic fractures, 56% of the children had other associated injuries (genitourinary, abdominal, vascular, chest and neurological), and 79% of them required operative treatment. According to the Torode and Zieg classification, the majority of cases were types III and IV. Seventy-two percent of all pelvic fractures were treated by surgery; 52% involved external fixation and 20% involved open reduction and internal fixation.

CONCLUSIONS: The pelvic fractures in childhood can be considered a marker for injury severity, because the associated injuries usually are severe, needing operative treatment and leading to a high mortality rate (12%). Level of Evidence IV, Case Series.

Language: en