Pelvic Fractures
Alexander Cavalea, MD, FACS, works in Trauma, General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care and is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the medical center. “Jason suffered a severe pelvic fracture called an open-book fracture, where the pelvis splits down the middle so it opens like a book,” he said. According to Cavalea, recent research shows these fractures have a 20-30 percent mortality risk due to the hemorrhaging associated with them. Because of Jason’s internal bleeding, the Trauma team gave him multiple blood transfusions in addition to what he’d received on his way to the hospital. “We also placed an endovascular balloon called a REBOA through an artery in his leg, which fed into his heart and stopped the bleeding,” Cavalea said. A pelvic binder closed Jason’s pelvis and decreased the hemorrhaging even more. After that, the team was able to surgically repair the internal bleeding. “I believe the REBOA and the transfusions saved his life, because it let us streamline his management and control his bleeding,” Cavalea said. “The pelvis is notoriously difficult to control hemorrhage in surgically.” Nearly three years later, Jason is back at work full-time as a Security Police Officer. He’s also finishing the pole barn he’d been working on the morning of the accident. He said, “This was a good reminder about miracles and how strong love can be—and how God makes these unexplainable things happen.”
Fracture Types
Your pelvis is the ring of bones between the spine and legs. It supports the hips and spine, helping to anchor the muscles and protect the organs inside the lower abdomen. Pelvic fractures occur when one or more of the pelvic bones breaks.
UNSTABLE FRACTURE Two or more breaks in the pelvis where the ends of the broken bones don’t line up. STABLE FRACTURE One break in the pelvic ring where the ends of the bones still line up correctly. OPEN BOOK FRACTURE A severe, unstable pelvic fracture where the pelvis separates in the front, causing the ring of bones to open up like a book.
Common Causes
• Car or motorcycle crashes • Osteoporosis (fragile bones) • Athletic activities
• Crush accidents • Falls
By the Numbers
Percentage of pelvic fractures in overall pelvic injuries
3%
Percentage of open pelvic fractures Percentage of deaths from pelvic fractures Percentage of deaths from open fractures
5-16%
2-4%
20-30%
Percent of patients over 65 who die from a pelvic fracture
20%
Jason suffered a severe pelvic fracture called an open-book fracture, where the pelvis splits down the middle so it opens like a book. He stayed at the medical center more than three weeks before returning home to start physical therapy.
Nationwide average percent of admitted trauma patients with pelvic ring fractures
8.5%
5
A Reminder of Miracles
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