Trauma Roundtable: The Basics of Pelvic Ring Fractures

Abstract

Pelvic ring fractures result from high-energy trauma that often leaves patients hemodynamically unstable. Unstable patients require the attention of a dedicated trauma team, which often means a transfer from a smaller critical access hospital to a larger tertiary center. Stable patients with pelvic ring injuries who present to a nontertiary center rely on local orthopaedic emergency room coverage for the diagnosis and treatment. These patients are increasingly being seen by physician assistants (PAs), whose specialty may lie outside of orthopaedic trauma but who play a critical role in identifying and treating these fractures. The goal of this roundtable is to guide PAs on the approach to pelvic ring fractures including imaging, recognizing stable and unstable fracture patterns, determining weight bearing status, and follow-up protocols.