Injury patterns, management and outcomes of hemodynamically unstable pelvic fractures at an Australian level 1 trauma centre: a 10-year registry analysis.

INTRODUCTION/

BACKGROUND

Pelvic ring injuries (PRI) in traumatic shock are associated with over 30% mortality even in high income countries' mature trauma systems, but recent Australian data showed no haemorrhage related mortality in this group. We aimed to describe the epidemiology, management and outcomes of PRI with haemodynamic instability managed in a state's only Level 1 adult trauma centre.

DESIGN

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all trauma patients with major PRI (Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) > 3) and hemodynamic instability (defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) <90 mmHg or a shock index (heart rate (HR)/SBP) > 0.7) presenting to the state adult trauma centre between 2013 and 2022. Data on demographics, injury patterns, management strategies, and outcomes were collected from the State Trauma Registry and hospital records.

RESULTS

Of 1369 patients with pelvic or acetabular fractures during the 10-year study period, 152 (11%) had major PRI with hemodynamic instability at presentation. Most were male (72%) with a median age of 35 years. Motor vehicle and motorbike crashes accounted for 52% of injuries. The median Injury Severity Score was 33. Massive transfusion protocols were activated in 45% of cases, while angioembolisation was utilised in 5.9%. Overall in-hospital mortality was 7.2% and mortality due to haemorrhage was 2%.

CONCLUSIONS

In our mature trauma system, hemodynamically unstable PRI patients' low mortality is consistent with the recently reported outcomes of best performing centres.