Young–Burgess Classification of Pelvic Ring Fractures as a Diagnostic Tool to Predict Vascular Injury Patterns and Targeted Embolization: A 10-Year Retrospective Study of Patients at a Single Regional Trauma Center in South Korea

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the ability of the Young-Burgess classification system to predict mortality, transfusion requirements, and nonorthopaedic injuries in patients with pelvic ring fractures and to determine whether mortality rates after pelvic fractures have changed over time. Retrospective review. Level I trauma center. One thousand two hundred forty-eight patients with pelvic fractures during a 7-year period. None. Mortality at index admission, transfusion requirement during first 24 hours, and presence of nonorthopaedic injuries as a function of Young-Burgess pelvic classification type. Mortality compared with historic controls. Despite a relatively large sample size, the ability of the Young-Burgess system to predict mortality only approached statistical significance (P = 0.07, Kruskal-Wallis). The Young-Burgess system differentiated transfusion requirements--lateral compression Type 3 (LC3) and anteroposterior compression Types 2 (APC2) and 3 (APC3) fractures had higher transfusion requirements than did lateral compression Type 1 (LC1), anteroposterior compression Type 1 (APC1), and vertical shear (VS) (P < 0.05)--but was not as useful at predicting head, chest, or abdomen injuries. Dividing fractures into stable and unstable types allowed the system to predict mortality rates, abdomen injury rates, and transfusion requirements. Overall mortality in the study group was 9.1%, unchanged from original Young-Burgess studies 15 years previously (P = 0.3). The Young-Burgess system is useful for predicting transfusion requirements. For the system to predict mortality or nonorthopaedic injuries, fractures must be divided into stable (APC1, LC1) and unstable (APC2, APC3, LC2, LC3, VS, combined mechanism of injury) types. LC1 injuries are very common and not always benign (overall mortality rate, 8.2%).

Aim Pelvic and Acetabular fractures (PAFs) are a significant concern, particularly in older individuals with osteoporosis. This study presents a 6-year retrospective review conducted at a tertiary trauma centre in the UK to analyse the incidence, demographics, and associated factors of PAFs. Method Data encompassed pelvic ring and acetabular fractures from January 2017 to January 2023, categorized by Young and Burgess or Letournel classifications. Parameters included age at injury, gender, BMI at presentation, injury mechanisms, and related orthopaedic and non-orthopaedic injuries. Results The study assessed 2,128 pelvic fractures, comprising 1,093 pelvic ring fractures and 1,035 acetabular fractures. Acetabular fracture patients were older (average 61.5 vs. 56.4 years) and more frequently male (67% vs. 46%) than pelvic ring fracture patients. Both groups displayed similar average BMI and surgical management rates (49.8%). Among pelvic ring fractures, Lateral compression type-I fractures predominated at 53.7%, while anterior column and posterior hemitransverse fractures were most common in acetabular fractures (23.6%). High and low-impact falls were the primary causes for pelvic ring (24.0%) and acetabular fractures (30.8%). Interestingly, almost two-thirds of pelvic fractures occurred in isolation without additional orthopaedic polytrauma. Organ lacerations/contusions were the predominant associated non-orthopaedic injuries, followed by pneumothorax and brain injuries, with fewer other injuries. Conclusions This study offers insight into PAFs at a UK trauma centre, particularly in sub-classifying pelvic fractures based on the Young-Burgess and Letournel classifications, a rarity in existing literature. These findings contribute to international comparisons and inform evidence-based policies for healthcare resource planning and postoperative care.

Objective To analyze the relationship between the number of pelvic ring fractures, the location of fracture and Tile type of pelvic fracture and pelvic fracture healing status. To discuss how to understand the pelvic malunion, severe pelvic malunion and bony pelvis deformity （destruction） in Classification of the Impairment Related to Injury. Methods One hundred and ninety-eight cases of evaluation of body impairment class of pelvic fracture caused by traffic accident accepted by Zhongcheng Institute of Forensic Science in 2016 were collected. The cases were statistically analyzed in terms of the distribution of the number of pelvic ring fracture, the location of pelvic ring fracture and Tile type of pelvic fracture in various healing statuses. Results There were 16 cases without pelvic ring fracture, 18 cases of single pelvic ring fracture, 91 cases of 2 pelvic ring fractures, 73 cases of 3 or more pelvic ring fractures, 136 cases of anterior or posterior pelvic ring fractures, 46 cases of simultaneous anterior and posterior ring fractures. There were 34 cases of Tile A type, 130 cases of Tile B type and 24 cases of Tile C type. Statistical analysis results showed that, the differences in distribution of the number of pelvic ring fracture, the location of pelvic ring fracture and Tile type of pelvic ring fracture in various healing statuses had statistical significance （P<0.05）. Conclusion In determination of the healing status of pelvic fracture, preliminary judgment can be made by using the number of pelvic ring fracture, status of pelvic ring fracture and Tile type of pelvic fracture. Caution is required when dealing with single pelvic fractures （including dislocations）, and determining the destruction of bony pelvis.

Osteoporotic pelvic fractures have significant mortality and morbidity in the older population. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors predicting one-year mortality of patients sustaining a low-impact pelvic fracture (pelvic ring and acetabulum). A total of 282 patients aged ≥ 65 years presenting with a low-energy pelvic ring (n =254) or acetabular (n =28) fracture to the emergency department at the University Hospitals Leuven were included. Demographic and clinical data were retrospectively collected and predictors for mortality one year after pelvic ring fractures were evaluated. The one-year mortality after osteoporotic pelvic ring fractures and acetabular fractures was respectively 20.4% (95% CI 15.7-26.0) and 14% (95% CI 4.0-32.7). Multivariate logistic regression adjusted for confounders identified male gender (OR 3.18; 95% CI (1.06-9.49), p =0.038), a higher number of comorbidities (OR 1.5; 95% CI (1.16-1.95), p =0.002) and in-hospital complications (OR 5.00; 95% CI (1.39-17.97), p =0.014) as independent predictors of one-year mortality after pelvic ring fractures. The one-year mortality after low-energy pelvic is high and can be predicted by different patient characteristics. These findings can guide pelvis fracture treatment decisions in the older population.

BackgroundThe correlation between fracture type and mortality in patients with pelvic fracture has been previously investigated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether instability of the pelvic ring as assessed by Tile’s classification is a predictor of death in patients with pelvic fractures.Materials and methodsThe clinical course of consecutive patients with pelvic fractures was retrospectively reviewed. Eighty-seven patients with pelvic ring fractures were included in the study. As potential predictive factors, fracture type according to Tile’s classification, and generally used traumatic parameters (injury severity score, revised trauma score, and probability of survival) were analyzed.ResultsThe mortality was significantly higher in patients with unstable fracture patterns (P < 0.05). In non-survivors, index values of traumatic parameters were more severe than those in survivors (P < 0.05).ConclusionThe present study suggests that patients with unstable pelvic fractures have an increased risk of death associated with exacerbated injury severity.

Pelvic ring fractures categorized under Tile Categories B and C denote partially and fully unstable fractures, respectively. This study aimed to identify the clinically associated factors of Tile B/C pelvic ring fractures. This retrospective cross-sectional study reviewed medical records from the Emergency Medicine department at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. The study included individuals aged ≥ 15 who experienced accidents from 2012 to 2021. To investigate the associations between the clinical variables and three critical outcomes, including Tile B/C pelvic ring fractures, major vascular injuries, and the necessity for surgical or radiological interventions, multivariable logistic regression analysis was employed. A total of 198 patients were included in the study, among whom 34.8% were diagnosed with Tile B/C pelvic ring fractures. The analysis revealed several significant predictors of Tile B/C fractures, including the presence of pelvic tenderness (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 15.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.86-39.66, p < 0.001), and a shock index (SI) ≥1 (aOR = 4.2, 95% CI = 1.24-14.22, p = 0.021). Moreover, Tile B/C pelvic ring fractures were associated with an increased incidence of major vascular events and the imperative requirement for surgical or radiological interventions. Clinical findings of pelvic tenderness and an SI ≥1 are strong predictive clinical factors associated with Tile B/C pelvic fractures. Early diagnosis, application of an pelvic binder, provision of initial resuscitation, and prompt transportation to a definitive care facility are crucial components of management.

To investigate whether the observation of particular pelvic fracture patterns enables the clinician to predict the presence and type of injuries to the lower urinary tract, as the mechanisms of injury to the lower urinary tract in association with fractures of the pelvic ring are unclear. The case-notes and radiographs of 168 patients with either pelvic ring or acetabular fractures were reviewed; 108 pelvic ring fractures (81 men, 27 women) and 60 acetabular fractures (46 men, 14 women). The pelvic fractures were classified according to the system described by Tile and were correlated with the incidence and type of lower urinary tract injury (LUTI). Overall, of the 108 men and women with pelvic ring fractures, 27 (25%) had a LUTI documented either radiologically or as an intraoperative finding. Of the 81 men with pelvic ring fractures, 24 (30%) had a LUTI, of whom six (7%) had an isolated bladder laceration, 14 (17%) a partial urethral injury (PUI) and four (5%) a complete urethral disruption (CUD). Five of the 18 men with urethral injuries also had bladder injuries and in three of these, the bladder neck was also injured. Three of 27 women (11%) had a LUTI, all of whom had isolated bladder lacerations. Of the 46 men with an acetabular fracture, one (2%) had a CUD, and three (7%) had a PUI. One of 14 of women with an acetabular fracture sustained a bladder laceration. None of the three men with a Tile Type-A pelvic ring fracture sustained a LUTI. Of the 28 men with 'open-book' (Tile Type-B1) fractures, 21 (75%) had no associated LUTI and seven (25%) had a LUTI (five partial urethral injuries and two bladder lacerations). Of the 10 men with 'lateral compression' (Tile Type-B2) fractures, six had no LUTI and four had a LUTI (two partial urethral injuries and two bladder lacerations). Of the 40 men with 'vertical shear' (Tile Type-C) fractures, 27 (68%) had no LUTI and 13 (32%) a LUTI (four complete urethral disruptions, seven partial urethral injuries, and two bladder lacerations) including all of the combined bladder and urethral injuries and all of the bladder neck injuries. The pelvic fracture pattern alone does not predict the presence of a LUTI. When it occurs, the type of LUTI appears to be related to the fracture mechanism. The pattern of injury to the soft tissue envelope and specifically to the ligaments supporting the lower urinary tract offers the best correlation with the observed LUTI. We propose a mechanism for this.

Introduction:Lateral compression type 1 (LC1) pelvic ring fractures make up 63% of all pelvic ringinjuries. This fracture pattern is typically seen in older patients. The purpose of thisstudy is to assess the ambulatory status of individuals sustaining LC1 fractures atlong-term follow-up and what specific characteristics, if any, effect this status orfunctional outcomes.Methods:Over a 2-year period, all pelvic ring injury at 2 hospitals within one academicinstitution was queried. One hundred sixty-one low-energy LC1 pelvic fractures wereidentified.Results:Fifty patients were available for long-term outcomes (mean: 36 months). Long-termfunctional outcomes (mean follow-up: 36 months) as measured by SMFA subgroup scores weredemonstrated to be 3 times higher in patients currently using assistive devices forwalking (P = .012). Increased age (P = .050) wasassociated with the continued use of assistive walking devices. Of the patients who didnot use an ambulatory device prior to LC1 injury, 5 (11.6%) sustained a fall or medicalcomplication within 30 days of the index pelvic fracture; this was associated with thecurrent use of an assistive ambulatory device (P = .010). Forty-three(86%) patients didn’t use an assistive ambulatory device prior to sustaining the LC1fracture. Seven (14%) patients utilized assistive devices both before and after the LC1injury. Thirteen (26%) patients, who did not utilize assistive ambulatory devices priorto their injury, necessitated them at long-term follow-up.Discussion:Surgeons should be aware of these associations, as they can implement earlyinterventions aimed at patients at risk, for assistive device use, following LC1 pelvicfractures.Conclusion:More than a quarter of the patients sustaining an LC1 pelvic fracture continue to usean aid for ambulation at long-term follow-up. Older age, complications, and falls within30 days of this injury are associated with the utilization of an assistive ambulatorydevice.

Background:The middle window of the ilioinguinal approach described by Letournel requires dissection through important structures (inguinal part). We developed a less invasive anterior approach consisting of a medial window (Pfannenstiel) combined with the lateral window of the ilioinguinal approach.Methods:Initially, anatomical validation on two cadaver specimens proved the feasibility of the assumption. Between 2007 and 2012, 15 patients with acetabular fractures and 35 patients with pelvic ring injuries were consecutively operated on using the modified technique. The patients were prospectively followed clinically and by standard radiographs for at least 1 yr.Results:Fifty patients with a fractured pelvis or acetabulum managed to complete at least 1 yr follow-up. Anatomical reduction was achieved in 21 pelvic fractures (60% of pelvic fractures) and in 10 acetabular fractures (67% of acetabular fractures). Satisfactory reduction was achieved in 14 pelvic fractures (40% of pelvic fractures) and in five acetabular fractures (33% of acetabular fractures).Conclusions:The modified approach allows reduction of the anterior column and pelvic ring fractures without requiring dissection through the inguinal neurovascular structures. Our results demonstrate that safe reduction and stable fixation of selected acetabular and pelvic ring fractures is possible with this approach.Level of Evidence:This is considered a level IV evidence study (case series).

From 1980 to 1995 inclusive we conducted a study on pelvic ring and acetabular fractures in Kantonspital Chur (KSC). 118 patients were studied and of these 51 had pelvic ring fractures and 67 acetabular fractures. Most of the patients with pelvic ring fractures had additional severe injuries and almost two thirds of them were polytraumatised and very shocked. One third of the acetabular patients were polytraumatised and about one fifth shocked. The length of the hospital stay was also noteworthy--an average of 47 days for the pelvic ring fractures and 30 days for the acetabular fractures. These injuries mainly affected patients in the active working age group (20-60 years of age). 56 of these had acetabular fractures and 39 had pelvic ring fractures. From 51 patients (76%) treated with acetabular fractures and 45 with pelvic ring fractures (88%) (i.e. of total 96 (81%)) we have summarised our results. About two thirds of the patients were followed up at one year and the AO documentation form completed. The remainder were sent a questionnaire. The results showed that 84% of the acetabular fracture group and 83% of the pelvic ring fractures had a good or excellent final result. Radiological complications noted in the acetabular fracture group were early signs of degenerative disease (18), a slight pelvic tilt (8), heterotopic ossification (7), early evidence of femoral head necrosis (3) and 1 definite pseudoarthrosis. Additionally 7 patients had significant motor or sensory loss. By comparison, those with pelvic ring fractures showed less in the way of radiological complications. 17 patients were seen to have a slight tilt, 9 showed initial signs of arthrosis and there was 1 pseudoarthrosis. Of the 5 patients in this group with neurological damage, 3 had difficulty in achieving an erection and 2 had urological problems. One patient who had a pelvic ring fracture had to have a caesarean section for a subsequent pregnancy.

BackgroundResearch on mortality and comorbidity associated with pelvic fractures in older patients is scarce. We aimed to determine the short- and long-term mortality rates of older patients with a pelvic ring fracture compared with both an age-matched cohort of patients with a femoral neck fracture and a general population, and to investigate 30- and 60-day readmission rates after pelvic fracture.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study done in an emergency department of a level II/III trauma center. All patients aged over 70 years diagnosed with a pelvic or acetabular fracture between January 2010 and December 2016 in our ED were identified. Two reference populations were used: patients operated due to femoral neck fracture in our institution between 2007 and 2008 and a general population aged 70 years or more.ResultsTwo hundred nineteen patients were identified. 30- and 90-day mortality was 7.3 and 11.4%, respectively. Compared to the general population, a pelvic fracture was associated with an 8.5-fold (95% CI: 5.2–13.9) and 11.0-fold (95% CI: 5.4–22.3) 90-day mortality risk in females and males, respectively. We could not observe a difference in the risk of 90-day mortality between femoral neck fracture patients and patients with a pelvic fracture. Within 30 days, 28 (12.8%) pelvic fracture patients were readmitted for in-patient care in our hospital.ConclusionsThe mortality of older patients with pelvic ring fractures resembles that after hip fracture. Although older patients with a pelvic ring fracture rarely require operative treatment, the severity of the injury should not be considered as a class apart from hip fracture.

Improved outcome after early fixation of acetabular fractures

The purpose of this study was to examine hospital quality measures and the long-term functional outcomes associated with lateral compression type 1 [LC1] pelvic ring injuries. A query was performed from December 2011 to September 2020 at two institutions within one hospital system for patients with a pelvic fracture diagnosis. Chart review was performed on admitted patients to determine demographic information, medical co-morbidities (to calculate Charlson Co-morbidity Index), in-hospital complications, length of stay [LOS], discharge disposition, and 30-day readmission rates. All patients included were treated nonoperatively. An attempt was made to contact all patients for long-term follow-up to assess current functional status with a Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment [SMFA]. Two-hundred and eighty-six patients were included, with 172 (65.9%) patients admitted and analyzed with respect to hospital quality measures. Patients admitted were older (83 vs 80years, p = 0.015) with more medical co-morbidities (p = 0.001) than those discharged from the emergency department. The average LOS was 5.7 ± 3.7days and 31 (18%) experienced in-hospital complications. The inpatient mortality rate was 1.2%, and the 30-day readmission rate was 8.1%. When comparing admitted patients without concomitant injuries, admitted patients with concomitant injuries, and non-admitted patients, admitted patients with concomitant injuries were found to have more medical co-morbidities (p = 0.001). Forty-three patients were available for long-term follow-up (average 36.6 ± 7.3months), with an average SMFA score of 29.0 ± 25.7. Patients admitted for LC1 pelvic fractures are likely to be older with more medical co-morbidities, and up to 1/5th will experience inpatient complications. Although inpatient mortality remains low, this injury pattern can lead to significant functional disability that persists for several years after injury.

Background Grading of pelvic fracture instability is challenging in patients with pelvic binders. Dual-energy CT (DECT) and cinematic rendering can provide ancillary information regarding osteoligamentous integrity, but the utility of these tools remains unknown. Purpose To assess the added diagnostic value of DECT and cinematic rendering, with respect to single-energy CT (SECT), for discriminating any instability and translational instability in patients with pelvic binders. Materials and Methods In this retrospective analysis, consecutive adult patients (age ≥18 years) were stabilized with pelvic binders and scanned in dual-energy mode using a 128-section CT scanner at one level I trauma center between August 2016 and January 2019. Young-Burgess grading by orthopedists served as the reference standard. Two radiologists performed blinded consensus grading with the Young-Burgess system in three reading sessions (session 1, SECT; session 2, SECT plus DECT; session 3, SECT plus DECT and cinematic rendering). Lateral compression (LC) type 1 (LC-1) and anteroposterior compression (APC) type 1 (APC-1) injuries were considered stable; LC type 2 and APC type 2, rotationally unstable; and LC type 3, APC type 3, and vertical shear, translationally unstable. Diagnostic performance for any instability and translational instability was compared between reading sessions using the McNemar and DeLong tests. Radiologist agreement with the orthopedic reference standard was calculated with the weighted κ statistic. Results Fifty-four patients (mean age, 41 years ± 16 [SD]; 41 men) were analyzed. Diagnostic performance was greater with SECT plus DECT and cinematic rendering compared with SECT alone for any instability, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.67 for SECT alone and 0.82 for SECT plus DECT and cinematic rendering (P = .04); for translational instability, the AUCs were 0.80 for SECT alone and 0.95 for SECT plus DECT and cinematic rendering (P = .01). For any instability, corresponding sensitivities were 61% (22 of 36 patients) for SECT alone and 86% (31 of 36 patients) for SECT plus DECT and cinematic rendering (P < .001). The corresponding specificities were 72% (13 of 18 patients) and 78% (14 of 18 patients), respectively (P > .99). Agreement (κ value) between radiologists and orthopedist reference standard improved from 0.44 to 0.76 for SECT versus the combination of SECT, DECT, and cinematic rendering. Conclusion Combined use of single-energy CT, dual-energy CT, and cinematic rendering improved instability assessment over that with single-energy CT alone. © RSNA, 2022 Online supplemental material is available for this article.

Fractures of the pelvic ring are comparatively rare with an incidence of 2-8 % of all fractures depending on the study in question. The severity of pelvic ring fractures can be very different ranging from simple and mostly "harmless" type A fractures up to life-threatening complex type C fractures. Although it was previously postulated that high-energy trauma was necessary to induce a pelvic ring fracture, over the past decades it became more and more evident, not least from data in the pelvic trauma registry of the German Society for Trauma Surgery (DGU), that low-energy minor trauma can also cause pelvic ring fractures of osteoporotic bone and in a rapidly increasing population of geriatric patients insufficiency fractures of the pelvic ring are nowadays observed with no preceding trauma.Even in large trauma centers the number of patients with pelvic ring fractures is mostly insufficient to perform valid and sufficiently powerful monocentric studies on epidemiological, diagnostic or therapeutic issues. For this reason, in 1991 the first and still the only registry worldwide for the documentation and evaluation of pelvic ring fractures was introduced by the Working Group Pelvis (AG Becken) of the DGU. Originally, the main objectives of the documentation were epidemiological and diagnostic issues; however, in the course of time it developed into an increasingly expanding dataset with comprehensive parameters on injury patterns, operative and conservative therapy regimens and short-term and long-term outcome of patients. Originally starting with 10 institutions, in the meantime more than 30 hospitals in Germany and other European countries participate in the documentation of data. In the third phase of the registry alone, which was started in 2004, data from approximately 15,000 patients with pelvic ring and acetabular fractures were documented. In addition to the scientific impact of the pelvic trauma registry, which is reflected in the numerous national and international publications, the dramatically changing epidemiology of pelvic ring fractures, further developments in diagnostics and the changes in operative procedures over time could be demonstrated. Last but not least the now well-established diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms for pelvic ring fractures, which could be derived from the information collated in registry studies, reflect the clinical impact of the registry.