title: The immediate treatment of pelvic ring disruption with the pelvic stabilizer.
abstract: The management of the hemodynamically unstable patient with a severe pelvic ring disruption remains one of the most serious trauma emergencies. Standard resuscitation protocols may include attempted closure of the pelvic ring by the use of pneumatic anti-shock trousers, external fixation applied in the operating room, or a sheet wrapped around the patient in the emergency room. We report a case of pelvic ring disruption in which a successful clinical outcome was achieved with the emergent use of the Pelvic Stabilizer in the emergency room. The Pelvic Stabilizer is a device that can be effectively applied in the emergency room for the acute reduction and early stabilization of the displaced pelvis in a hemodynamically unstable patient. The use of a pelvic clamp can also be effective in the acute setting for a stable trauma patient with pelvic ring disruption. It rapidly reduces and stabilizes a potential cause for patient decompensation without obstructing access to further concomitant diagnostic or therapeutic interventions in the abdomen and perineum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Texas, Houston 77030, USA.
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Morandi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pearse
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Randelli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Landi
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D004630:Emergencies; D016267:External Fixators; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D011631:Pubic Symphysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy