The diagnosis of pelvic fractures by 'springing'.
Thirty-six patients were studied prospectively to assess the benefit of 'springing' the pelvis in traumatized patients, to confirm or refute a fracture of the pelvis. None of the patients was multiply injured and half of those with fractures were elderly, sustaining their injuries in simple falls. Springing the pelvis was a poor predictor of the presence or absence of a pelvic fracture, at best it yielded a specificity of 71% and sensitivity of 59%. Its routine use in clinical examination should be abandoned.
Grant
P T
PT
Department of Accident and Emergency Medicine, University Hospital of South Manchester, U.K.
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D011312:Pressure; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices