If you have a pelvis fracture that is treated without surgery, you may be able to walk with crutches or a walker right away. If you have a have a more severe pelvis injury that requires surgery, you may be asked to not put weight on one or both legs.
Walking aids: Depending on where your pelvic fracture is, your healthcare provider may have you use a walking aid such as crutches, a walker or a wheelchair to avoid bearing weight on your leg(s). You may have to use the walking aid for up to three months or until your pelvis fully heals.
Symptoms of a hip or pelvic fracture include significant, sharp pain in the hip or groin and swelling, bruising, and tenderness in the skin at the site of the injury. Depending on the severity of the fracture, a broken bone may prevent you from putting any weight on the affected hip.
How is a pelvic fracture diagnosed? A pelvic fracture is usually diagnosed by the presence of bone tenderness, difficulty walking or doing other movements and any loss of nerve function in the lower part of the body.
Most pelvic fractures become increasingly stable around 6 weeks after the event and typically heal within 3 months.
Complications of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
Weak pelvic floor muscles can also cause sexual difficulties such as reduced vaginal sensation. If the muscles are weak but overactive (or working too hard) this can cause painful sex or vulval pain and can also cause reduced bladder control.
You may walk with a limp for several months if damage has occurred to the muscles around your pelvis. These muscles may take up to 1 year to become strong again. Future problems, such as pain, reduced mobility, and sexual dysfunction, may result from damage to nerves and organs that is related to the pelvic fracture.
In severe pelvic fractures (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] > or =4), the incidence of associated intraabdominal injuries was 30.7%, and the most commonly injured organs were the bladder and urethra (14.6%).
The majority of pelvic fractures result from motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), falls from height, or a pedestrian or cyclist struck by a vehicle. [4][5] There is, however, a high rate of associated injuries, occurring in 12% to 62% of patients with pelvic fractures.
A pelvic fracture is also suspected if you have had a lesser injury but there is pelvic bone tenderness, difficulty walking or any loss of sensation in the lower part of the body. X-ray will show most pelvic bone injuries, although it will not show details of injuries to organs inside the pelvis.
A broken pelvis may need a few months to heal. You may have had surgery to repair your pelvis, depending on where it was broken and how bad the break was. Your doctor may have put metal screws, pins, or a rod in your pelvis to fix the break. In some cases, surgery is not needed.
Bed rest and pain medicine is the only treatment required. Stay in bed for the first 2 to 3 days to reduce pain with movement. During this time, you will need help with bathing, using the bathroom, and meals. A bedpan or bedside commode may be easier to use than getting up to use the bathroom.
Exercise increases blood flow, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to injured parts of the bone, aiding in healing. Doctors often recommend additional physical therapy after the bone has healed and you can walk again to further strengthen muscles in the legs, back, and abdomen.
Pain Relief
Pain relievers can help you feel well enough to begin physical therapy, which is a vital part of recovery from a fractured hip or pelvis. Our doctors often recommend over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen. If pain is more intense, your doctor can prescribe a stronger medication.
Minor pelvic fractures in older adults involve either low energy mechanisms or repetitive stresses in osteoporotic bone (insufficiency fractures). These fractures may be either displaced or nondisplaced and generally involve both anterior and posterior elements of the pelvis.
Pelvic trauma can occur if you experience strong impact to the area, such as during a car wreck, motorcycle or bicycle accident, fall or getting hit by a car as a pedestrian. All of these traumas can cause injury to the pelvic bones, including fractures.
The biggest long term complication of a broken pelvis is the development of arthritis. The main reason doctors operate on these fractures is that they know from past experience that if they leave the fractures in a poor position, although they will often heal, arthritis may follow within five years.
These fractures can cause life-threatening bleeding, whether the skin is broken or not. Dangerously low blood pressure (shock. Blood pressure is usually low... read more ) can result. Also nearby nerves and organs, such as the bladder, reproductive organs, and intestine, may be damaged.
Tips for Sitting Comfortably with a Fractured Pelvis
Use a cushion: Sitting on a cushion can help relieve pressure on the pelvic bones and make sitting more comfortable. Look for a cushion that is made of a soft, supportive material and has a cut-out design to reduce pressure on the coccyx.
Pelvic pain can be either acute or chronic. Acute means the pain is sudden and severe. Chronic means the pain either comes and goes or lasts for months or longer. Pelvic pain that lasts longer than 6 months and doesn't improve with treatment is known as chronic pelvic pain.
Try sleeping on your back first while propped up on a few pillows. If that doesn't work, slowly adjust yourself to a side position if possible.
Bowel entrapment within a pelvic fracture is rare, but can be fatal. This important diagnosis is difficult to make, even with current imaging methods.
Compared with younger adults with pelvic fractures, older adults with this injury are at increased risk of long-term physical impairment and mortality. People may find that their quality of life decreases after a pelvic fracture. This is particularly true when other bone injuries develop due to pelvic fracture.
Slouching or sitting very straight can put strain on your back and pelvis. Aim for halfway between these 2 positions. Put a small support such as a cushion or rolled up towel at your lower back. This can help you to avoid slouching.