Clinical assessment to identify pelvic injuries in the prehospital setting: a prospective cohort study

Abstract

ObjectivesPelvic injuries can be life-threatening and are challenging to identify in the prehospital phase. This study aimed to assess how pelvic examination is performed by paramedics and to determine the accuracy of their clinical examination when identifying pelvic fractures.MethodsThis was a prospective cohort study of prehospital interventions including both real and simulated trauma patients between July and August 2022. Data collection for the injured patient was made by an observer who was paired with teams of two consenting paramedics. Data pertaining to the clinical assessment for potential pelvic injuries during all interventions with a trauma patient were collected. Additionally, data were collected during four simulated scenarios of patients with an open-book type pelvic fracture following high-energy trauma mechanisms.ResultsA total of 29 trauma-related clinical interventions were assessed. Most patients were female (n = 22, 75.9%) with a mean age of 69.8 (SD 22.2) years. Fall from standing was the main trauma mechanism (n = 21, 72.4%). During 72.4% (n = 21) of all trauma-related interventions, an assessment for pelvic injuries was performed, mostly by pelvic palpation (n = 19, 65.5%), inquiring about the presence of pain (n = 12, 41.4%), searching for deformation (n = 7, 24.1%), and/or assessing leg length (n = 8, 27.6%). No pelvic injury was suspected by the paramedics, but two patients (6.9%) had a pelvic fracture and two (6.9%) had a hip fracture. Simulated cases of high-velocity mechanisms with an open-book pelvic fracture were completed by 11 pairs of paramedics. Most did a clinical pelvic assessment (n = 8, 72.7%) using palpation. When asked after the simulation, nine pairs (81.8%) suspected a pelvic fracture.ConclusionPelvic injuries are challenging to identify, and pelvic assessment on the field is not standardized among paramedics. Training is needed to increase awareness relative to pelvic injuries and to improve detection.