Pelvic and Acetabular Fractures

Pelvic and Acetabular Fractures

Pelvic and Acetabular Fractures

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Pelvic Anatomy - Ring Fundamentals

  • Bones: Ilium, ischium, pubis (form acetabulum); sacrum, coccyx. Pelvis = 2 innominate bones + sacrum.
  • Key Ligaments:
    • Sacrospinous, sacrotuberous (resist external rotation & vertical shear).
    • Anterior & Posterior Sacroiliac (SI) ligaments.
    • Pubic symphysis.
  • Neurovascular:
    • Sciatic nerve (L4-S3), lumbosacral plexus.
    • Internal iliac artery branches (📌 'I Like Going Places In My Very Own Underwear'). Key: Superior/Inferior gluteal, Obturator artery/nerve.
  • Stability: Posterior ring integrity (SI joints, sacrum, iliac wings & ligaments) is crucial.

⭐ The posterior sacroiliac ligament complex is the strongest in the pelvis and crucial for vertical stability.

Pelvic Fractures - Stability Showdown

Stability by Young & Burgess (Y&B), Tile. 📌 Y&B: APC ('Open Book'), LC ('Closed Book'), VS.

Class.Mechanism / Key FeatureStability
Y&B APCAP Comp. ('Open Book'); Diastasis >2.5cm unstableI: Stable; II: RUVS; III: RUVU
Y&B LCLat. Comp. ('Closed Book'); Rami/Sacral #I: Stable; II: RUVS; III: RUVU
Y&B VSVertical Shear; Major disruptionRUVU
Tile AStable injuries (e.g. Avulsions)Stable
Tile BRotational (Open book/Bucket handle)RUVS
Tile CRotational + Vertical (VS, severe APC/LC)RUVU

⭐ APC Type III ("open book") highest hemorrhage risk.

Acetabular Fractures - Column Conundrums

  • Anatomy: Two columns, anterior (iliopubic) & posterior (ilioischial), are key to stability. Also includes walls (anterior, posterior), roof (dome), and quadrilateral plate. Femoral head blood supply primarily via Medial Circumflex Femoral Artery.
  • Judet & Letournel Classification: Divides fractures into 5 elementary and 5 associated types, crucial for surgical planning.
    Elementary TypesAssociated Types
    Posterior WallT-shaped
    Posterior ColumnPosterior Column + Posterior Wall
    Anterior WallTransverse + Posterior Wall
    Anterior ColumnAnt. Column/Wall + Post. Hemitransverse
    TransverseBoth Columns
  • Imaging: Radiographs: AP Pelvis. Judet views: 📌 Iliac Oblique = I see Posterior column, Anterior wall; Obturator Oblique = I see Anterior column, Posterior wall. CT scan is gold standard for detailed assessment. Judet Views of Acetabulum with Fractures and Anatomy

⭐ The posterior wall is the most frequently fractured component of the acetabulum.

Definitive Management - Fixation Focus

Pelvic Fractures:

  • Non-operative: Stable (e.g., Tile A, LC-I).
  • Operative Indications: Hemodynamic instability, open Fx, symphyseal diastasis >2.5cm, vertical shear, displaced sacral Fx >1cm.
  • Fixation Methods: External fixation, anterior ORIF (symphysis/rami), posterior percutaneous SI screws/ORIF.

Acetabular Fractures:

  • Non-operative: Undisplaced/minimally displaced (<2mm), congruent joint, roof arc angle >45°.
  • Operative Indications: Displacement >2mm, incongruity, posterior wall instability >40-50%, intra-articular fragments, irreducible dislocation.
    • Surgical Approaches: Kocher-Langenbeck (posterior), Ilioinguinal (anterior), Stoppa.
  • Goals (Both): Anatomical reduction, stable fixation, early mobilization.

⭐ Anatomic reduction of the weight-bearing dome of the acetabulum is paramount for preventing post-traumatic arthritis.

Pelvic fracture with ORIF plate and screws

Complications - Damage Control

  • Early:
    • Hemorrhage (pelvic venous plexus; sup. gluteal a., int. pudendal a.)
    • Urogenital injury (urethral/bladder)
    • Neurologic: Sciatic nerve (peroneal div. common), L5/S1 roots
    • DVT/PE, Infection, Morel-Lavallée lesion
  • Late:
    • Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis (PTOA)
    • Malunion/Nonunion
    • Heterotopic Ossification (HO); Prophylaxis: Indomethacin 25mg TID or 75mg SR OD
    • AVN femoral head, Chronic pain, Sexual dysfunction

⭐ Sciatic nerve injury occurs in up to 20% of acetabular fractures, particularly with posterior dislocations or posterior column/wall fractures, often affecting the peroneal division.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Young-Burgess classification (APC, LC, VS, CM) guides pelvic ring injury management by mechanism.
  • Tile classification (A, B, C) assesses pelvic stability, crucial for surgical decisions.
  • Letournel-Judet classification for acetabular fractures uses iliac/obturator oblique (Judet) views.
  • Prioritize hemodynamic resuscitation for pelvic hemorrhage; use pelvic binders/ex-fix early.
  • High risk of sciatic nerve injury (especially posterior acetabular wall) and urogenital trauma.
  • Watch for Morel-Lavallée lesions (closed degloving) with pelvic trauma; can complicate recovery.

Practice Questions: Pelvic and Acetabular Fractures

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In which of the following conditions is the Kocher-Langenbeck approach for emergency acetabular fixation contraindicated?

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Flashcards: Pelvic and Acetabular Fractures

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_____ sign is seen in transverse fracture of acetabulum

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_____ sign is seen in transverse fracture of acetabulum

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