Transarterial embolisation is associated with improved survival in patients with pelvic fracture: propensity score matching analyses

Superior gluteal artery injury in pelvic ring injury and acetabular fracture: Single center observational study

BACKGROUND

Intrapelvic hemorrhage following pelvic fractures, including pelvic ring and acetabular fractures, originates from the venous system and the fracture. Arterial injury often causes significant bleeding and hemodynamic instability. The superior gluteal artery (SGA) is a frequently injured artery in patients with pelvic fractures. This study investigated the incidence and pattern of SGA injuries associated with pelvic fractures.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with pelvic fractures who visited our institution between January 2016 and April 2022. Patients who underwent angiography for suspected arterial injury and SGA embolization were identified. Furthermore, the demographics and patterns of pelvic fractures were evaluated.

RESULTS

In total, 2042 patients with pelvic fractures visited our trauma emergency department and 498 patients (24.4%) underwent embolization for arterial injuries. Of these, 30 patients (1.5% of the total and 6.0% of the patients who underwent procedures) received embolization therapy of the main trunk of the SGA. The mean age of patients was 51.2 (23-85 years), and the injury mechanisms were all high-energy injuries. There were 19 pelvic ring injuries, eight acetabular fractures, and three combined injuries. Acetabular fractures involved mostly both columns. The three combined injuries were lateral compression involving both columns, vertical shear involving both columns, and lateral compression with T-type fractures. Twelve (40.0%) occurred through the sciatic notch of different patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

SGA injury occurred in 1.5% of all pelvic fractures and was identified in 6% of patients receiving embolization. SGA injury occurs through various injury mechanisms and fracture patterns, even in the absence of a fracture in the sciatic notch. However, no conclusions could be drawn in this study on the association between SGA injuries, injury mechanisms, and fracture patterns. Since the prediction of SGA injury by fracture pattern is limited, angiography should be performed regardless of fracture pattern when an injury is suspected.

[Role of Interventional Radiologists in Trauma Centers]

Based on statistics available in Korea, trauma centers play a critical role in treatment of patients with trauma. Interventional radiologists in trauma centers perform various procedures, including embolization, which constitutes the basic treatment for control of hemorrhage, although interventions such as stent graft insertion may also be used. Although emergency interventional procedures have been used conventionally, rapid and effective hemorrhage control is important in patients with trauma. Therefore, it is important to accurately understand and implement the concept of damage control interventional radiology, which has gained attention in recent times, to reduce preventable trauma-induced mortality rates.

Spontaneous recovery of severely impaired penile arterial flow before urethroplasty for pelvic fracture urethral injury

A 21-year-old male presented to our hospital for life-threatening pelvic fracture, mandating emergent transarterial embolization of the right internal pudendal artery. At five-month post-injury, penile arterial flow was severely impaired, thus penile revascularization surgery were planned, before attempting urethroplasty for a 2-cm gap in the posterior urethra. However, reevaluation angiography results obtained two months later revealed spontaneous recovery of penile arterial flow. Excision and primary anastomosis urethroplasty was successfully performed without signs of bulbar ischemia. This case suggests that the timing of urethroplasty following pelvic injury should be tailored according to recovery of penile arterial flow.