Imaging Tests All pelvic fractures require X-rays — usually from a number of different angles — to help the doctor determine how much the bones are displaced (have moved out of place). X-ray shows an unstable pelvic fracture with disruption of the pubis (arrow) and sacroiliac joint (arrowhead).
Pelvic fractures may be recognised by tenderness, pain, bruising, swelling and crepitus of the pubis, iliac bones, hips and sacrum. Other presenting factors are: haematuria, rectal bleeding, haematoma and neurological and vascular abnormalities in the legs.
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.
Pelvic fracture signs and symptoms can include: Experiencing pain in your groin, hip and/or lower back. Experiencing more intense pain when walking or moving your legs. Experiencing numbness or tingling in your groin area or legs.
The main symptom of a pelvic fracture is pain in the groin, hip or lower back, which may get worse when walking or moving the legs. Other symptoms may include: Abdominal pain. Numbness or tingling in the groin or legs.
While your pelvis heals, you will need to keep weight off the hips. Once you are able to walk, a walker or crutches can help you get around. You can help your pelvis heal with care at home. Your doctor may prescribe medicine to relieve pain and prevent blood clots.
CT Scans. Your doctor may order a CT scan to examine a fracture pattern or assess the extent of damage in the hip joint. A CT scan uses X-rays and a computer to create two- and three-dimensional pictures of the hip and pelvic bones, enabling doctors to examine a fracture from many different angles.
Computed tomography (CT) is the best imaging technique in the trauma setting to detect injuries to the pelvic ring. CT scans can detect injuries to the posterior ring that may be missed on plain radiographs including disruptions of the neural foramina.
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 fractures usually start to heal about four weeks after the fracture. Some patients may notice less pain as soon as a few days after a fracture, depending on the severity of the fracture, but most patients take pain medication for four to six weeks after the injury.
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.
A fractured pelvis is almost always painful. This pain is aggravated by moving the hip or attempting to walk. Often, the patient will try to keep their hip or knee bent in a specific position to avoid aggravating the pain. Some patients may experience swelling or bruising in the hip area.
Pain and tenderness in the groin, hip, lower back, buttock or pelvis. Bruising and swelling over the pelvic bones. Numbness or tingling in the genital area or in the upper thighs. Pain which may also be present on sitting and when having a bowel movement.
Activity Modification. After a hip or pelvic fracture, your doctor may advise you not to put any weight on the affected hip for six weeks or more. This allows the bone to heal. Your doctor can provide crutches, a walker, a cane, or a wheelchair to help you get around.
A fractured pelvis is a break of the ring of bones that connect your spine to the hips. These fractures usually result from high energy injuries such as car accidents or falls from a height in younger patients and most often from falls in the elderly patient.
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.
In severe pelvic fractures (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS]4), the incidence of associated intraabdominal injuries was 30.7%, and the most commonly injured organs were the bladder and urethra (14.6%).
A force between 2,000 and 10,000 newtons is required to disrupt an adult pelvic ring [1]. Such high forces are generated in traffic accidents, crush traumas, and falls from great heights. Very often, soft tissues inside the small pelvis and around the pelvic ring are also disrupted [2].
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.
You can sleep in which ever position you find most comfortable but may prefer to place a pillow in between your knees when sleeping on your side. Avoid sitting on low chairs or for prolonged periods of time. Use your hands on the arms of the chair to help gently lower yourself.
A sacral stress fracture is a hairline crack in the pelvic bone. This type of fracture is relatively uncommon but is usually caused by repetitive stress rather than a single accident. It usually affects the bottom of the pelvis, but can affect the front joint between the two pelvic bones.
The late sequel of pelvic fracture treatment can cause gait and postural disturbances, chronic pain, genitourinary dysfunction, persistent neurological deficits, and rectal dysfunction.