Background: On January 12, 2010, a catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince. Because of their sudden and destructive nature, earthquakes can result in unfamiliar mass casualty situations accompanied by devastating orthopedic injuries. Evaluation of the pelvic fractures resulting from this earthquake revealed several factors that we hope will facilitate optimal preparation and planning for future disaster situations.
Methods: A cohort of patients with earthquake-related pelvic ring fractures who were treated aboard the USNS Comfort was retrospectively analyzed. Anteroposterior radiographs of the pelvis were evaluated and categorized according to the Young-Burgess classification system.
Results: Sixty-eight patients were included in the cohort. The mean (SD) age was 29.6 (14.4) years. Nineteen patients (29.7%) were male, and 49 (70.3%) were female. Pelvic fractures were categorized as anteroposterior compression in 7 patients, lateral compression (LC) in 47 patients, vertical shear (VS) in 8 patients, and combination of pelvic ring/acetabulum in 6 patients. Among the 23 patients treated operatively, the mean (SD) delay from injury to surgery was 19.2 (7.4) days.
Conclusion: Patients showed predominance toward LC injuries (69.1%), consistent with crush under rubble. Thirty-one percent of the fractures were considered unstable (anteroposterior compression Type III, LC Type III, VS, and combination of pelvic ring/acetabulum). The VS injuries observed (11.8%) may be the result of a previously unidentified injury mechanism, an upright individual being struck by falling rubble, violently applying a downward force to the body over an extended lower extremity. A substantial delay in the treatment observed in this series may lead to an underestimation of both quantity and severity of pelvic fractures as critically ill patients may have perished before evaluation and treatment. In addition, the application of pelvic sheeting techniques may be a lifesaving intervention for interval pelvic stabilization following earthquakes in which medical resources are scarce.
Level Of Evidence: Epidemiologic study, level III; therapeutic study, level V.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/TA.0000000000000098 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Fracture toughness of cancellous iliac bone.
Open Vet J
November 2024
Orthopedics Unit, "Dr. Victor Popescu" Emergency Military Hospital, Timisoara, România.
Background: Cancellous bone mechanical properties are directly linked to structural integrity, which is a result of bone quantity, the quality of its bone matrix, and its microarchitecture. Several studies highlighted the bone behavior under specific loads, contributing to understanding risk factors and developing more effective therapeutic strategies. The anatomy and stability of iliac bone fractures, providing insight into pelvic trauma management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAn Outside-the-Box Approach for Treating a Rare Case of Urethrovaginal Fistula.
Cureus
November 2024
Urology, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) Pune, Pune, IND.
Urethrovaginal fistulas are rare complications often arising from urethrovaginal injuries commonly due to obstetrical trauma, urethral surgeries, pelvic fractures, or neoplastic treatments. Here, we present a unique case involving a 23-year-old female patient with a large urethrovaginal fistula and complete anterior vaginal wall sloughing following prolonged obstructed labor. Nine months post-cesarean, she reported urine leakage via the vagina upon catheter removal, which intensified in an erect posture.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBloodstream Infection Combined with Thoracic Infection Caused by : A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Infect Drug Resist
December 2024
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Objective: is usually found in urogenital tract infections and is associated with several extra-genitourinary infections, including septic arthritis, bacteremia, and meningitis. Here, we report a rare case of induced bloodstream infection with thoracic inflammation in a surgical patient.
Methods: A 56-year-old male who underwent surgery for multiple pelvic and rib fractures developed fever, pleural effusion, and wound exudation despite receiving prophylactic anti-infection treatment with cefotiam.
Minimally invasive sacroiliac fusion: current insights and a comprehensive literature review.
Turk J Med Sci
December 2024
Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
Background/aim: The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is a frequently overlooked source of lower back pain (LBP). Recently, it has gained recognition as a significant pain generator, prompting increased interest in surgeries targeting this area. Traditionally, open SIJ fusion was used to stabilize pelvic and sacral fractures, and then it was adapted for use in pain management until the development of minimally invasive surgery (MIS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTotal laparoscopic closed reduction and internal fixation for AO/OTA B2.1 pelvic fracture: A case report and literature review.
Chin J Traumatol
December 2024
Division of Trauma and War Injury, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University of PLA, Chongqing, 400042, China. Electronic address:
Endoscopic techniques have been widely used in orthopedic surgery, such as arthroscopy and transforaminal endoscopy, but the application in fracture is rarely reported. We reported a case of a 69-year-old male with pelvic fracture (AO/OTA type B2.1) who underwent successful laparoscopy-assisted pubic ramus plate fixation without auxiliary incision.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!