title: Operative treatment of pediatric pelvic fractures--our experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of unstable pelvic fractures in children is a serious surgical problem. Despite similarities between the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of pelvic fractures in children and adults, this article attempts to demonstrate age-specific differences in patient management.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a group of 46 children with pelvic fractures hospitalized in the years 2001-2009, 18 patients required surgical treatment. The fractures were classified according to Tile as type B1 fractures (11% of the patients operated on), type B2 (28%), B3 (22%), and C (39%). Surgical treatment was based on Gordon's classification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. All patients achieved radiological bone union by 3 months after surgery. The length of the lower limbs assessed at 12 months after surgery was the same in all patients. No patients demonstrated an oblique pelvic position. None of the patients had resting pain, but in one case there was slight pain in the sacro-iliac joint region due to incomplete reduction of sacro-iliac subluxation, but repeat surgery was not necessary. In one patient, there was a difference of approximately 15˚ in internal rotation of the hip joints caused by asymmetrical reduction of the pelvic fracture. One patient developed inflammation, which resolved after antibiotic therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Operative treatment of pelvic fractures in children over 8 years of age should be based on the principles of stable fixation and early rehabilitation, as it is in adults. Surgical treatment of unstable pelvic fractures with osteosynthesis in children is a challenge and needs expertise and a well-prepared multi-specialty team.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Trauma and Orthopaedic Ward, Upper Silesian Children's Health Centre, Katowice.
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tomaszewski
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gap
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000145:classification / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D011044:Poland; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome