The value of plain radiographs in the prediction of outcome in pelvic fractures treated with embolisation therapy

The Role of Pelvic Packing for Hemodynamically Unstable Pelvic Ring Injuries

In patients with severe pelvic fractures, exsanguinating hemorrhage represents the major cause of death within the first 24 hours. Recently, multiple management algorithms have been proposed; however, the optimal treatment modalities, in particular, in the hemodynamically unstable patient with pelvic fracture are still a matter of debate. Mechanical pelvic stabilization by pelvic binder, anterior external fixator, and/or pelvic C-clamp constitutes the first treatment option in the hemodynamically unstable patient with pelvic fractures. The mechanically stabilized pelvic ring provides the basis for pelvic packing through a minimal extraperitoneal approach, which effectively controls venous bleeding and bleeding from the fractured bony surface. Patients with persistent hypotension and/or transfusion requirements should undergo angiography and selective embolization for definitive arterial control if necessary. This review article describes the current trend in the initial management of patients with pelvic fractures and hemodynamic instability, and focuses on the role of pelvic packing.

Factors associated with pelvic fracture-related arterial bleeding during trauma resuscitation: a prospective clinical study

OBJECTIVES

To determine predictors of pelvic fracture-related arterial bleeding (PFRAB) from the information available in the Emergency Department (ED).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Single level-1 Trauma Center.

PATIENTS

In a 3-year period ending in December 2008, consecutive high-energy pelvic fracture patients older than 18 years were included. Patients who arrived >4 hours after injury or dead on arrival were excluded. Patient management followed advanced trauma life support and institutional guidelines. Collected data included patient demographics, mechanism of injury, vital signs, acid-base status, fluid resuscitation, trauma scores, fracture patterns, procedures, and outcomes. Potential predictors were identified using standard statistical tests: Univariate analysis, Pearson correlation (r), receiver operator characteristic, and decision tree analysis.

INTERVENTION

Observational study.

OUTCOME MEASURES

PFRAB was determined based on angiography or computed tomography angiogram or laparotomy findings.

RESULTS

Of the 143 study patients, 15 (10%) had PFRAB. They were significantly older, more severely injured, more hypotensive, more acidotic, more likely to require transfusions in the ED, and had higher mortality rate than non-PFRAB patients. No single variable proved to be a strong predictor but some had a significant correlation with PFRAB. Useful predictors identified were worst base deficit (BD), receiver operator characteristic (0.77, cutoff: 6 mmol/L, r = 0.37), difference between any 2 measures of BD within 4 hours (ΔBD) >2 mmol/L, transfusion in ED (yes/no), and worst systolic blood pressure <104 mm Hg. Demographics, injury mechanism, fracture pattern, temperature, and pH had poor predictive value.

CONCLUSIONS

BD <6 mmol/L, ΔBD >2 mmol/L, systolic blood pressure <104 mm Hg, and the need for transfusion in ED are independent predictors of PFRAB in the ED. These predictors can be valuable to triage blunt trauma victims for pelvic hemorrhage control with angiography.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Management of Bleeding Pelvic Fractures

INTRODUCTION

In patients with severe pelvic fractures, exsanguinating hemorrhage represents the major cause of death within the first 24 h. Despite advances in management, the mortality rate in these patients remains significantly high. Recently, multiple treatment algorithms have been proposed for patients with severe pelvic fractures; however, the optimal modalities in particular in the hemodynamically unstable patient are still a matter of lively debate.This review article focuses on the recent body of knowledge on the different treatment options in patients with severe pelvic fractures and proposes the possible role of each modality in the management of these patients.

METHODS

The MEDLINE database was searched for medical literature addressing the management of severe pelvic fractures with specific attention given to recent, clinically relevant publications.

RESULTS

Angiography and embolization have emerged as excellent methods for addressing arterial bleeding. Mechanical pelvic stabilization and surgical hemostasis by pelvic packing, on the other hand, may effectively control venous bleeding and bleeding from the fractured bony surface. However, since there is no precise way to determine the major source of bleeding that is responsible for the hemodynamic instability, controversy remains over the timing and optimal order of angiography, mechanical pelvic stabilization, and packing.

CONCLUSIONS

The author's own approach to these patients includes angiographic embolization as a first-line treatment only in hemodynamically stable patients with an arterial blush seen in the computed tomography scan, indicating acute arterial bleeding. Hemodynamically unstable patients are immediately transferred to the operating room, where pelvic packing and mechanical stabilization of the pelvic ring are carried out. Optionally, a subsequent postoperative angio-embolization is performed if signs of further bleeding remain present.

Comparison between laparotomy first versus angiographic embolization first in patients with pelvic fracture and hemoperitoneum: a nationwide observational study from the Japan Trauma Data Bank

BACKGROUND

A common dilemma in the management of pelvic fractures is recognizing the presence of associated abdominal injury. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between initial therapeutic intervention (laparotomy or transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE)) and mortality.

METHODS

This was a cohort study using the Japan Trauma Data Bank between 2004 and 2010, including blunt trauma patients with pelvic fractures and positive Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) results. Eligible patients were restricted to those who underwent laparotomy or TAE/angiography as the initial therapeutic intervention. Crude and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for in-hospital mortality were compared between the laparotomy first and TAE first groups (reference group). Multiple logistic regression analysis and propensity score adjusted analysis were used to adjust for clinically relevant confounders, including the severity of injury.

RESULTS

Of the 317 participants, 123 patients underwent laparotomy first and 194 patients underwent TAE first. The two groups were similar in terms of age, although the laparotomy first group had higher mean Injury Severity Scores (ISS) and higher mean scores based on the abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), as well as lower mean pelvic AIS and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Half of the patients who were hypotensive (SBP < 90 mmHg) on arrival underwent TAE first. The laparotomy first group had a significantly higher crude in-hospital mortality (41% vs. 27%; P < 0.01). After adjusting for confounders, the choice of initial therapeutic intervention did not affect the in-hospital mortality (AOR, 1.20; 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 0.61-2.39). Even in the limited subgroup of hypotensive patients (SBP 66-89 mmHg and SBP < 65 mmHg subgroup), the effect was similar (AOR, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.56-4.05 and AOR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.44-3.03).

CONCLUSIONS

In Japan, laparotomy and TAE are equally chosen as the initial therapeutic intervention regardless of hemodynamic status. No significant difference was seen between the laparotomy first and TAE first groups regarding in-hospital mortality.

Multidisciplinary management of blunt pelvic trauma

Pelvic fractures account for ∼3% of all fractures and usually occur in patients with polytrauma. Pelvic fractures usually indicate high energy transfer and a significant mechanism of injury, and they can involve massive hemorrhage. For this reason, mortality from pelvic trauma is high, ranging from 40% to 60% among patients in shock, and up to 90% in patients considered to be in extremis. Multidisciplinary approaches in the treatment of patients with pelvic fractures have resulted in improved outcomes for these complex and challenging injuries. In this article, we describe a case of a pediatric patient who suffered severe pelvic fracture with massive hemorrhage, requiring a multidisciplinary approach for control of hemorrhage and definitive repair of injuries.

Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma practice management guidelines for hemorrhage in pelvic fracture--update and systematic review

BACKGROUND

Hemorrhage from pelvic fracture is common in victims of blunt traumatic injury. In 2001, the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma (EAST) published practice management guidelines for the management of hemorrhage in pelvic trauma. Since that time there have been new practice patterns and larger experiences with older techniques. The Practice Guidelines Committee of EAST decided to replace the 2001 guidelines with an updated guideline and systematic review reflecting current practice.

METHODS

Building on the previous systematic literature review in the 2001 EAST guidelines, a systematic literature review was performed to include references from 1999 to 2010. Prospective and retrospective studies were included. Reviews and case reports were excluded. Of the 1,432 articles identified, 50 were selected as meeting criteria. Nine Trauma Surgeons, an Interventional Radiologist, and an Orthopedic Surgeon reviewed the articles. The EAST primer was used to grade the evidence.

RESULTS

Six questions regarding hemorrhage from pelvic fracture were addressed: (1) Which patients with hemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures warrant early external mechanical stabilization? (2) Which patients require emergent angiography? (3) What is the best test to exclude extrapelvic bleeding? (4) Are there radiologic findings which predict hemorrhage? (5) What is the role of noninvasive temporary external fixation devices? and (6) Which patients warrant preperitoneal packing?

CONCLUSIONS

Hemorrhage due to pelvic fracture remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the trauma patient. Strong recommendations were made regarding questions 1 to 4. Further study is needed to answer questions 5 and 6.

Pelvic packing or angiography: competitive or complementary?

Pelvic angiography is an established technique that has evolved into a highly effective means of controlling arterial pelvic haemorrhage. The current dominant paradigm for haemodynamically unstable patients with pelvic fractures is angiographic management combined with mechanical stabilisation of the pelvis. However, an effective rapid screening tool for arterial bleeding in pelvic fracture patients has yet to be identified. There is also no precise way to determine the major source of bleeding responsible for haemodynamic instability. In many pelvic fracture patients, bleeding is from venous lacerations which are not effectively treated with angiography to fractured bony surfaces. Modern pelvic packing consists of time-saving and minimally invasive techniques which appear to result in effective control of the haemorrhage via tamponade. This review article focuses on the recent body of knowledge on angiography and pelvic packing. We propose the optimal role for each modality in trauma centres.

Direct retroperitoneal pelvic packing versus pelvic angiography: A comparison of two management protocols for haemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the outcomes of haemodynamically unstable cases of pelvic ring injury treated with a protocol focused on either direct retroperitoneal pelvic packing or early pelvic angiography and embolisation.

METHODS

A retrospective review of a prospectively collected database in an academic level I trauma centre, treating matched haemodynamically unstable cases of pelvic fracture with either pelvic packing (PACK group, n=20) or early pelvic angiography (ANGIO group, n=20). Physiological markers of haemorrhage, time to intervention, transfusion requirements, complications and early mortality were recorded.

RESULTS

The PACK group underwent operative packing at a median of 45min from admission; the median time to angiography in the ANGIO group was 130min. The PACK group, but not the ANGIO group, demonstrated a significant decrease in blood transfusions over the next 24h post intervention. In the ANGIO group, ten people required embolisation and six died, two from acute haemorrhage; in the PACK group, three people required embolisation; four died, none due to uncontrolled haemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONS

Pelvic packing is as effective as pelvic angiography for stabilising haemodynamically unstable casualties with pelvic fractures, decreases need for pelvic embolisation and post-procedure blood transfusions, and may reduce early mortality due to exsanguination from pelvic haemorrhage.

Advanced trauma life support, 8th edition, the evidence for change

The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma's Advanced Trauma Life Support Course is currently taught in 50 countries. The 8th edition has been revised following broad input by the International ATLS subcommittee. Graded levels of evidence were used to evaluate and approve changes to the course content. New materials related to principles of disaster management have been added. ATLS is a common language teaching one safe way of initial trauma assessment and management.

Predictors of positive angiography in pelvic fractures: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Severe pelvic fractures continue to be a major problem for trauma surgeons. Early identification of patients who would benefit from therapeutic angiographic embolization (AE) of pelvic bleeding would be beneficial. We hope to identify simple risk factors that would pinpoint patients who would benefit from therapeutic AE.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a prospective observational study at an academic Level I trauma center. All blunt trauma patients with a pelvic fracture admitted from December 2003 to February 2007 were included. AE was performed for hemodynamic instability (systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg), fracture pattern (sacroiliac joint [SIJ] disruption, butterfly, open book), or CT demonstrating a large pelvic hematoma. AE was considered therapeutic if contrast extravasation was noted and addressed with embolization. Main outcomes measures were positive angiography and mortality. Stepwise logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of therapeutic AE. A predictive model was built based on these independent risk factors to estimate the probability of a therapeutic AE.

RESULTS

One hundred thirty-seven (23%) of 603 patients with pelvic fractures had angiography. Therapeutic AE was performed in 85 patients (62%). Indications for angiography included hemodynamic instability (58%), fracture pattern (26%), and CT findings (9%). Nineteen patients (22%) with therapeutic AE had no hypotension or tachycardia. Independent predictors for therapeutic AE were SIJ disruption (odds ratio [OR]: 4.5; 95% CI, 1.6 to 12.6; p = 0.005), female gender (OR: 3.9; 95% CI, 1.5 to 10.0; p = 0.005), and duration (in minutes) of systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (OR: 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1.9; p = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Presence of SIJ disruption, female gender, and duration of hypotension can reliably predict patients who would benefit from AE. This predictive model can help early identification of patients who would benefit from pelvic angiography.

Multifocal arterial haemorrhage in a partially stable pelvic fracture after a crush injury: a case report

INTRODUCTION

Most pelvic haemorrhages are thought to be caused by injury to small arteries or veins in the fractured cancellous pelvic bone or in the surrounding soft-tissues, and only 6-18% of patients with unstable pelvic fractures have haemorrhage from larger arteries. When arterial injuries are present, the majority involve branches of the internal iliac artery with only few published reports of injuries to the external iliac artery or its branches.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We report of a patient who sustained a combined pelvic and acetabular fracture with multifocal bleeding involving branches of both the internal iliac as well as the external iliac arteries after a crush injury. The primary attention was focused on the most probable arterial injury, the internal iliac artery and only at repeat angiography was the injury to the internal epigastric artery, caused by degloving injury to the trunk, recognized.

RESULTS

Arterial control was achieved only following aggressive fluid resuscitation, pelvic packing, repeated embolization and ligation of the peripelvic inferior epigastric artery. After initial haemodynamic control was achieved, the patient sustained multiple complications, partly as a consequence of the injury, but also as a consequence of the life-saving treatments.

CONCLUSION

The case describes a rare combination of arterial injuries in a complex pelvic fracture constituting a partially stable pelvic fracture and a dislocated acetabular fracture in a patient with pelvic crush injury and a degloving injury to the trunk. The case also describes the complex nature of these injuries and rarely reported problems related to the treatment of them.

The role of pelvic angiography in evaluation and management of pelvic trauma

Controversy exists about the indications and optimal timing of angiography in hemodynamically unstable patients with severe pelvic fractures. Recommendations from published studies are limited by small numbers of patients. In this article the recommended indications, timing, and drawbacks to angiography are reviewed.

Pelvic fractures in pediatric and adult trauma patients: are they different injuries?

BACKGROUND

Many aspects of pediatric trauma are considerably different from adult trauma. Very few studies have performed comprehensive comparisons between pediatric and adult pelvic fractures. The purpose of this study was to compare the incidence of pelvic fracture, the epidemiologic characteristics, type of associated abdominal injuries, and outcomes between pediatric (age </= 16 years) and adult (age > 16 years) patients.

METHODS

This was a trauma registry study that included all blunt trauma admissions at a Level I trauma center during an 8-year period. The incidence and severity of pelvic fractures, associated abdominal injuries, need for blood transfusion, and mortality in the two age groups were compared with the two-sided Fisher's exact test. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for associated abdominal injuries in pelvic fractures in the two age groups.

RESULTS

The incidence of pelvic fractures was 10.0% (1,450 of 14,568) in the adult group and 4.6% (95 of 2,062) in the pediatric group (p < 0.0001). In motor vehicle and pedestrian injuries, adults were twice as likely and in falls from heights > 15 ft seven times as likely as children to suffer pelvic fractures. However, age group was not a significant predictor of the severity of pelvic fracture. Only 9.5% of pediatric fractures and 8.8% of adult fractures had a pelvis Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score >/= 4. The incidence of associated abdominal injuries was high but similar in the two age groups (16.7% in adults and 13.7% in children, p = 0.48). Motor vehicle crash, pelvis AIS score >/= 4, and fall from height > 15 ft were significant predictors of associated abdominal injuries in the adult but not the pediatric group. The incidence of associated gastrointestinal injuries was similar in the two age groups (5.3% in children and 3.3% in adults, p = 0.37). The incidence of solid organ injuries was nearly identical in both groups (11.6% in children and 11.5% in adults). The need for blood transfusions and angiographic intervention was not significantly different between the two age groups. Exsanguination because of bleeding related to the pelvic fracture was responsible or possibly responsible in 42 deaths (2.9%) in the adult group and no deaths in the pediatric group.

CONCLUSION

Pediatric trauma patients are significantly less likely than adults to suffer pelvic fractures, although the age group is not a significant risk factor for the severity of pelvic fracture. The incidence of associated abdominal injuries is high and similar in the two age groups. Motor vehicle crash, fall from a height, and pelvis AIS score >/= 4 were significant predictors of associated abdominal injuries in the adult but not the pediatric patients. The need for blood transfusion is similar in both groups irrespective of Injury Severity Score and pelvis AIS score. The mortality resulting from exsanguination related to pelvic fractures is very low, especially in pediatric patients.

Pelvic fractures: epidemiology and predictors of associated abdominal injuries and outcomes

BACKGROUND

Pelvic fractures are often associated with major intraabdominal injuries or severe bleeding from the fracture site.

OBJECTIVE

To study the epidemiology of pelvic fractures and identify important risk factors for associated abdominal injuries, bleeding, need for angiographic embolization, and death.

METHODS

Trauma registry study on pelvic fractures from blunt trauma. Stepwise logistic regression was used to identify risk factors of severe pelvic fractures, associated abdominal injuries, need for major blood transfusion, therapeutic embolization, and death from pelvic fracture. Adjusted relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were derived.

RESULTS

There were 16,630 trauma registry patients with blunt trauma, of whom 1,545 (9.3%) had a pelvic fracture. The incidence of abdominal injuries was 16.5%, and the most common injured organs were the liver (6.1%) and the bladder and urethra (5.8%). In severe pelvic fractures (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] > or =4), the incidence of associated intraabdominal injuries was 30.7%, and the most commonly injured organs were the bladder and urethra (14.6%). Among the risk factors studied, motor vehicle crash is the only notable risk factor negatively associated with severe pelvic fracture. Major risk factors for associated liver injury were motor vehicle crash and pelvis AIS > or = 4. Risk factors of major blood loss were age > 16 years, pelvic AIS > or =4, angiographic embolization, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 25. Age> 55 years was the only predictor for associated aortic injury. Factors associated with therapeutic angiographic embolization were pelvic AIS > or =4 and ISS > 25. The overall mortality was 13.5%, but only 0.8% died as a direct result of pelvic fracture. The only pronounced risk factor associated with mortality was ISS>25.

CONCLUSIONS

Some epidemiological variables are important risk factors of severity of pelvic fractures, presence of associated abdominal injuries, blood loss, and need of angiography. These risk factors can help in selecting the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.