Blood loss in pelvic ring fractures: CT-based estimation.
BACKGROUND
The main cause of mortality after pelvic ring fractures is the acute haemorrhagic shock. The aim of the study was to estimate blood loss using CT and to correlate estimated blood loss to the mortality.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of 42 patients with AO/OTA C-type pelvic ring fractures was performed. In total 29 AO/OTA C1-type, 4 C2-type and 9 C3-type fractures were analysed. A CT-volumetric analysis was developed to estimate the early blood loss in the different compartments. The results were correlated to the mortality of the patients.


RESULTS
Significant increases in interstitial free blood volume (392±502.8vs. 888±663; P<0.05) and total blood loss (476±535vs. 1,005±649; P<0.05) were seen when comparing C1 to C3-type fractures. Early blood loss significantly correlated to mortality. No significant difference was seen between all groups with respect to systolic blood pressure, haemoglobin concentration and the Injury Severity Score (ISS).


CONCLUSIONS
In pelvic ring fractures the CT-estimated blood loss correlates to mortality.
Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Saarland's University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
Nils T
NT
Veith
Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Saarland's University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
Moritz
M
Klein
Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Saarland's University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
Daniel
D
Köhler
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Saarland's University, Homburg, Germany.
Thomas
T
Tschernig
Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Saarland's University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
Jörg
J
Holstein
Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Saarland's University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
Philipp
P
Mörsdorf
Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Saarland's University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
Tim
T
Pohlemann
Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Saarland's University Hospital, Homburg, Germany.
Benedikt J
BJ
Braun
Pelvic ring fractures; blood loss; haemorrhagic shock; volumetric CT