title: Combat-related pelvis fractures in nonsurvivors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to describe pelvic fractures and their associated injuries in service members who either died of wounds or were killed in action during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and define any differences in associated injuries between penetrating versus blunt injury to the pelvis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of all service members who sustained a pelvis fracture during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in the year 2008 was performed. Data were recorded for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred four nonsurvivors were identified with pelvic fractures. Appropriate records, photos, and radiographs were available for 91, 70 were classified as "Not Survivable" (77%) and 21 "Potentially Survivable" (23%). Mechanisms of injury included 69 blast (76%), 14 gunshot wounds (15%), 4 motor vehicle accidents (4.5%), and 4 "other" (4.5%). Direct injury to the pelvis was penetrating in 60 (66%) and blunt in 31 (34%). Large pelvic vessel injury was observed more frequently in penetrating pelvic injuries (27%) than blunt injuries (3%). Hollow viscus abdominal injuries were more common in those with penetrating (57%) than blunt injuries (10%). There was an inverse relationship with intra-abdominal, solid organ injuries (blunt, 81%; penetrating, 55%). Head injuries were also more common in blunt pelvic injuries (blunt, 68%; penetrating, 45%), as were cardiopulmonary injuries (blunt, 84%, penetrating injuries, 57%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Large pelvic vessel and hollow viscus injuries occur more frequently in penetrating combat-related pelvic fractures, whereas intra-abdominal solid organ, head, and cardiopulmonary injuries are more common in blunt pelvic injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California 92134, USA. James.Bailey@med.navy.mil
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stinner
authors.forename: Lorne H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Blackbourne
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mazurek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000293:injuries; D010388:Pelvis / Q000293:injuries*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D055815:Young Adult