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Pelvic Fractures

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Emergency Radiology

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2.10.8 Conclusion

Pelvic fractures form a polymorphous group, described as follows:

  • In the isolated acetabular fractures, function is mainly at stake. Radiological assessment relies upon good-quality plain films completed by CT imaging in fine slices with MPR. Letournel’s classification remains the reference. Management mainly consists of re-establishing a joint congruence to prevent early coxarthrosis.

  • Pelvic fractures often occur in violent trauma and are associated with visceral lesions, putting vital prognosis at stake. Radiological assessment must be included in multidisciplinary management and CT imaging stands for the most complete and least time-consuming device, allowing for investigation of both visceral and osseous lesions. In cases of hemodynamic shock, external fracture stabilization and embolization of pelvic bleeding are preponderant. Tile/AO’s classification is the most used classification at present. It allows good description of mechanisms and lesions and more adaptable management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital (CHUV), Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    N. Theumann & P. Schnyder

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  1. N. Theumann
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  1. Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland

    Borut Marincek

  2. Department of Medical Imaging, University Hospital Sart Tilman, Domaine Universitaire du Sart Tilman B 35, 4000, Liège, Belgium

    Robert F. Dondelinger

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Theumann, N., Schnyder, P. (2007). Pelvic Fractures. In: Marincek, B., Dondelinger, R.F. (eds) Emergency Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68908-9_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68908-9_12

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