title: Angiographic embolisation of pelvic ring injuries. Treatment algorithm and review of the literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between pelvic fracture patterns and the angiographic findings, and to assess the effectiveness of the embolisation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study, included patients with pelvic fractures and angiographic evaluation. Demographics, Injury Severity Score (ISS), associated injuries, embolisation time, blood units needed, method of treatment and complications were recorded and analysed. Fractures were classified according to the Burgess system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1998 and 2008, 34 patients with pelvic fractures underwent angiographic investigation. Twenty six were males. The mean age was 41 years. Twenty-seven were motor vehicle accidents and seven were falls. There were 11 anterior posterior (APC) fractures, 12 lateral compression (LC), eight vertical shear (VS) patterns and three with combined mechanical injuries. The median ISS was 33.1 (range 5-66). From the 34 who underwent angiography, 29 had positive vascular extravasations. From them, 21 had embolisation alone, two had vascular repair and embolisation, five required vascular repair alone and one patient died while being prepared for embolisation. Five cases were re-embolised. The findings suggested that AP fractures have a higher tendency to bleeding compared with LC fractures. Both had a higher chance of blood loss compared to VS and complex fracture patterns. We reported 57 additional injuries and 65 fractures. The complications were: one non lethal pulmonary embolism, one renal failure, one liver failure, one systemic infection, two deep infections and two psychological disorientations. Seven patients died in hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Control of pelvic fracture bleeding is based on the multidisciplinary approach mainly related to hospital facilities and medical personnel's awareness. The morphology of the fracture did not have a predictive value of the vascular lesion and the respective bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Academic Orthopaedic Department, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK. eikaradimas@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Efthimios J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Karadimas
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nicolson
authors.forename: Despoina D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Kakagia
authors.forename: Stuart J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Paula J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Peter V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Giannoudis
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000098:blood supply / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D010388:Pelvis / Q000098:blood supply*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D055815:Young Adult