Fracture locations influence the likelihood of rectal and lower urinary tract injuries in patients sustaining pelvic fractures.
BACKGROUND
Rectal and lower urinary tract injuries in pelvic fractures can lead to significant complications. We sought to determine whether fracture locations could serve as markers for injury.


METHODS
In our retrospective review of patients with blunt pelvic fractures, the association of fracture locations with injury to the rectum, bladder, and urethra was explored with Fisher's exact test and subsequently analyzed with multiple logistic regression.


RESULTS
Of the 362 patients reviewed, 8 had rectal injury and 24 had lower urinary tract injury. The following locations were found to be significant. Rectum: symphysis pubis (relative risk [RR] = 3.3, p < 0.001) and sacroiliac (SI) joint (RR = 2.1, p = 0.014). Bladder: symphysis pubis (RR = 2.1, p < 0.001), SI joint (RR = 2.0, p < 0.001), and sacrum (RR = 1.6, p = 0.002). Urethra: symphysis pubis (RR = 2.9, p = 0.003), SI joint (RR = 1.8, p = 0.04), and inferior ramus (RR = 4.6, p = 0.008). After multivariate analysis, the primary and independent predictors for each of the injuries were as follows: rectal injury, widened symphysis; bladder injury, widened symphysis and SI joint; and urethral injury, widened symphysis and fracture of the inferior pubic ramus. Although these associations were significant, the overall prevalence of associated rectal and urologic injuries was low. Consequently, the predictive values of these radiologic findings were also low, ranging from 5% to 9% for urethral and rectal injuries to 20% for bladder injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
Certain fracture locations are associated with increased risk for rectal, bladder, or urethral injury. Fractures involving these locations should prompt further work-up for assessment.
Aihara
Rie
R
Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA. rie.aihara@bmc.org
Blansfield
Joseph S
JS
Millham
Frederick H
FH
LaMorte
Wayne W
WW
Hirsch
Erwin F
EF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012007:Rectum / Q000293:injuries*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014521:Urethra / Q000293:injuries*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000293:injuries*; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology