Pelvic Fracture Imaging
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Pelvic ring fractures typically occur as a result of high-energy trauma, and men are affected more commonly than women. [1] High-energy trauma mechanisms include motorcycle crashes, pedestrian-vehicle crashes, motor vehicle crashes, falls from a height greater than 15 feet, and crush injuries, in descending order of frequency. Motor vehicle crashes are most commonly side-impact collisions when a larger vehicle hits a smaller vehicle. Pelvic ring fractures can also occur from lower-energy mechanisms, including a ground-level fall in elderly osteoporotic patients. [2] The mortality rates in patients admitted to the hospital with pelvic fractures ranges from 10-50% depending on the presence of life-threatening hemorrhage and associated injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen. [3]
In pelvic ring fractures, the pelvic ring is disrupted anteriorly and posteriorly in 2 or more places. The pelvic ring is composed of 3 bones: the paired innominate bones and the sacrum. The pelvic bones are stabilized by supporting ligaments. These ligaments include ligaments of the symphysis pubis, the anterior and posterior sacroiliac ligaments, the iliolumbar ligaments that attach the transverse processes of L5 to the sacroiliac joint ligaments, the sacrospinous ligaments, and the sacrotuberous ligaments. The ligaments of the symphysis pubis are the weakest, followed by the anterior ligaments of the sacroiliac joints. In unstable injuries, the sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments are disrupted and the patient is at risk for vascular and neural injury. [3]
See the images below.
Pelvic ring fractures should be suspected in patients with a suitable mechanism of injury. On physical examination, gentle bilateral compression of the iliac crests reveals tenderness and possibly crepitus. One may observe asymmetry in the alignment of the legs or protrusion of the iliac crests. Some pelvic ring injuries are associated with considerable soft tissue injury over the iliac wings or in the perineum. A pelvic binder or sheet is often placed in the field in at-risk patients to stabilize the pelvis and minimize bleeding. [4]
Initial radiographic examination is a portable pelvic radiograph in the trauma bay. The pelvic binder or sheet may reduce anterior-posterior compression injuries and may be removed briefly for the radiograph at the discretion of the emergency department physician. Evaluation of the sacrum and sacroiliac joints is sometimes limited on portable radiographs. Diastasis of the symphysis pubis of greater than 2.5 cm, obturator ring fractures, and fractures of the transverse processes of L5 that may be associated with avulsion of the iliolumbar ligament are indirect signs of posterior pelvic ring disruption in such cases. [1] On an anteroposterior pelvic radiograph, the normal symphysis pubis measures less than 5 mm. Mild offset of the symphysis pubis of 1-2 mm may be within normal limits. The normal sacroiliac joints measure 2-4 mm. [5]
See the images below.
A hemodynamically unstable patient will also have a focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) ultrasound to look for free intraperitoneal fluid and a diagnostic peritoneal lavage in some trauma centers. If there is gross hemoperitoneum, unstable patients are triaged to the operating room. If there is not gross hemoperitoneum and there is a pelvic fracture on pelvic radiographs, the patient is triaged to angiography for diagnosis and embolization of bleeding vessels that are assumed to arise from the pelvis.
Hemodynamically stable patients who are at risk for pelvic ring fracture are evaluated with CT. A whole-body scan including a contrast-enhanced chest, abdomen, and pelvis CT scan is performed. A CT cystogram may be performed in stable patients with hematuria, who have a Foley catheter in place.
CT has replaced radiography in classifying pelvic fractures. With modern multidetector CT, sagittal and coronal reconstructions are acquired in addition to the axial source images. Three-dimensional volume-rendered images can be acquired as well as 3-dimensional maximum-intensity projection images that resemble the traditional inlet and outlet views and Judet views. The inlet projection demonstrates rotational injuries to advantage and demonstrates anterior or posterior displacement of pelvic ring fractures. The outlet projection demonstrates vertical displacement of pelvic ring fractures. Judet views are used to evaluate acetabular fractures.
See the images below.
Contrast-enhanced CT also helps diagnose a pelvic hematoma and active extravasation of contrast. The most serious complication of pelvic ring fractures is life-threatening bleeding. The most common source of hemorrhage is small and medium-sized vessels in fractured cancellous bone, and retroperitoneal hemorrhage is most commonly venous in origin. These sources of bleeding stop on their own with stabilization of the fracture. [6]
Retroperitoneal bleeding occasionally comes from arteries, requiring urgent angiography and embolization. Contrast-enhanced CT can demonstrate active contrast extravasation and predict the need for angioembolization with a sensitivity of 66-90%, specificity of 85-98%, and accuracy of 87-98%. [7] The most common sites of arterial bleeding in pelvic fractures are branches of the internal iliac artery (also known as the hypogastric artery), most commonly the internal pudendal and superior gluteal arteries. However, bleeding may also occur from the external iliac artery or its branches. [3, 7]
Multidetector CT (MDCT), which has high spatial resolution and sensitivity and short acquisition times, allows for rapid identification and assessment of pelvic hemorrhage. [8]
Tile and Pennal initially introduced a classification scheme for pelvic fractures in 1979 based on the direction of force. [9] They divided pelvic ring fractures into anteroposterior compression injuries, lateral compression injuries, and vertical shear injuries. Anteroposterior compression injuries were termed “open book fractures.” Lateral compression injuries were subdivided into those that involve the ipsilateral posterior ring and obturator ring, the contralateral posterior ring and obturator ring (“bucket handle fractures”), and posterior ring/bilateral obturator ring injuries. The vertical shear injury was initially described by Malgaigne in 1855 and is due to violent forces with complete disruption of the anterior and posterior ring with vertical displacement.
Tile later modified this classification scheme based on fracture stability. Type A fractures were stable injuries and included isolated fractures of the ilium, ischium, sacrum, or coccyx. Type B fractures were rotationally unstable and included open book and lateral compression injuries alone or in combination. Type B fractures were vertically unstable and included unilateral or bilateral vertically unstable injuries, as well as combination injuries that included a vertically unstable component. [1]
The Young-Burgess classification system was introduced after the Tile system in 1990 and is the system in most common use currently. [10] It is also based on mechanism of injury.
Lateral compression injuries are due to a lateral compression force such as a side impact motor vehicle collision or a fall from a height onto one side. In all lateral compression injuries, there are transverse fractures through the pubic rami that may be ipsilateral or contralateral to the side of impact or bilateral.
Lateral compression I injuries have a compression fracture of the sacrum on the side of impact. See the images below.
Lateral compression II injuries have a crescent fracture arising from the posterior iliac wing due to forced internal rotation of the hemipelvis on the affected side with an avulsion fracture of an intact posterior sacroiliac ligament. See the images below.
Lateral compression III injuries are the “windswept pelvis.” There is either a compression fracture of the sacrum or an iliac crescent fracture on the side of impact. There is a contralateral anterior compression injury. These injuries typically result from a fall from a height followed by a crush injury such as a fall from a horse. See the images below.
Anterior-posterior compression injuries are due to a direct blow to the anterior pelvis or forced external rotation of the legs as may be seen in motorcycle crashes. In all cases, there is either diastasis of the pubic symphysis or there is a vertical fracture through the pubic rami. There is increased pelvic volume. The posterior fracture differentiates the subtypes of anteroposterior compression injuries.
Anteroposterior compression I injuries are stretch injuries of the anterior sacroiliac ligament without disruption. There is mild widening of the symphysis pubis less than 1-2 cm and there may be mild widening of the anterior sacroiliac joint on one side. These are stable injuries.
Anteroposterior compression II injuries occur with tearing of the anterior sacroiliac ligament and disruption of the sacrotuberous and sacrospinous ligaments. They result in an “open book pelvis” that is rotationally unstable but vertically stable owing to intact posterior sacroiliac ligaments. There is obvious widening of the anterior sacroiliac joint. The symphysis pubis is typically widened greater than 2.5 cm. [1] See the image below.
Anteroposterior compression III injuries result in complete separation of the hemipelvis. There is disruption of the anterior and posterior sacroiliac ligaments, as well as disruption of the sacrospinous and sacrotuberous ligaments. The pelvis is rotationally and vertically unstable. However, there is no vertical offset of the hemipelvis, distinguishing this injury from vertical shear injuries. See the images below.
Vertical shear injuries are due to a strong vertical force on an unstable pelvis such as a fall from a height or ejection from a motorcycle. There is either disruption of the symphysis pubis or there are vertical fractures through pubic rami on one or both sides. The posterior pelvic ring is disrupted vertically, either through the sacroiliac joint or through fractures of the sacrum or iliac wing. There is vertical offset of the hemipelvis. Vertical shear injuries may be unilateral or bilateral.
The best way to evaluate for vertical instability is to look at the posterior pelvic ring. Vertical offset of the symphysis pubis may be due to rotation of a leg from lateral compression or anteroposterior compression injuries or a floating symphysis. In particular, the lateral compression II injury can result in shortening of a leg that is corrected by externally rotating the pelvis. On plain radiographs and CT scans, it is best to evaluate the inferior margin of the sacroiliac joint to determine if there is vertical offset. [1] See the images below.
The combination mechanism category of injury includes those injury subtypes that share features of lateral compression, anteroposterior compression, and vertical shear injuries such as the lateral compression/vertical shear and anteroposterior compression/vertical shear combinations.
The Young-Burgess classification scheme for pelvic ring injury enables radiologists to recognize patterns of injury, improving detection of posterior pelvic ring injures. It also serves as a guide for surgical versus conservative therapy. More serious injuries are generally associated with increased mortality from life-threatening hemorrhage and associated injuries.
The most serious complication of pelvic ring injuries is life-threatening hemorrhage. Although the risk of hemorrhage increases with increasing injury severity, the Young-Burgess classification scheme for pelvic ring injury cannot be used to guide transfusion requirements and the need for angiography and embolization in individual cases. Some patients with high-grade pelvic ring injuries do not have significant bleeding, whereas other patients with low-grade pelvic ring injuries experience life-threatening hemorrhage. [11, 12] Geriatric patients in particular may experience life-threatening hemorrhage from relatively stable lateral compression injuries following minor trauma, in part, due to atherosclerosis resulting in impaired vasoconstriction and somewhat loose periosteum. [12]
Other complications of pelvic ring fractures are nerve injury, particularly with sacral fractures. Sacral fractures are classified by the system of Denis. [13] Zone 1 fractures of the sacral ala do not involve the neural foramina and may be associated with L5 nerve root injury. Zone 2 fractures involve the sacral foramina and may result in sciatica or, less commonly, bladder dysfunction. Zone 3 fractures involve the sacral spinal canal and may result in cauda equina syndrome with saddle anesthesia and loss of sphincter tone. [13]
Pelvic ring fractures are associated with injury to the bladder or urethra in 15-20% of cases. [3] Men are affected more commonly than women. Ninety-five percent of bladder injuries have gross hematuria, and the remaining 5% have microscopic hematuria. [3] Urethral injury should be suspected in men who have blood at the meatus, perineal bruising, a mobile prostate gland on physical examination, inability to pass urine, or inability to pass a Foley catheter. If urethral injury is suspected, a retrograde urethrogram is performed.
Long-term complications of pelvic ring fractures include chronic pain, painful gait, and sexual dysfunction. Many women who sustain pelvic ring fractures who later become pregnant deliver by cesarean delivery. [4]
Treatment of pelvic fractures requires an understanding of the injury and pattern of instability. The posterior pelvic ring injury defines ultimate stability.
The pelvic sheet or binder should be removed within 36 hours to prevent pressure necrosis of the skin. An external fixation device may be placed anteriorly or a pelvic C clamp may be placed posteriorly. Modern surgical methods are enabling percutaneous reduction and fixation of pelvic fractures under fluoroscopic guidance. Percutaneous nails may be placed across the sacroiliac joints and along the anterior column of the acetabulum in some cases. Open reduction and traditional malleable plate and screw fixation are still needed in some cases. [3, 4]
With complete instability of the posterior ring (vertically unstable injuries with disruption of the posterior sacroiliac ligament or complete fractures through the sacrum and sacroiliac joints), patients need posterior stabilization with supplemental anterior stabilization. With partial instability of the pelvic ring (rotationally unstable injuries without disruption of the posterior SI ligament), anterior stabilization alone may be adequate. With posterior iliac crescent injuries, which are essentially an avulsion of the posterior sacroiliac ligament, posterior stabilization is required. [3, 4]
All radiographic findings should be further assessed on pelvic CT scans, because subtle fractures and disruptions may be more apparent on CT scans. In particular, sacral fractures may be difficult to detect on radiographs. See the images below.
The spatial relationship of fracture fragments is often easier to assess with CT scans than with radiographs. Axial CT images may be reformatted into the coronal and sagittal planes. Three-dimensional images of the pelvis may also be reconstructed. Reformatted images are more useful in assessing acetabular fractures than in evaluating pelvic ring fractures.
In addition to the osseous structures, the soft tissues of the pelvis should be examined. The size of a pelvic hematoma secondary to a pelvic ring fracture may be determined. If contrast material is intravenously administered for pelvic CT, active arterial bleeding may be demonstrated, and the information may be used to guide the clinical decision to incorporate angiography into the patient’s treatment plan.
The use of pelvic CT scans with axial source images and coronal and sagittal reformations allows accurate classification of pelvic ring fractures in virtually every patient. Three-dimensional volume-rendered images and 3-dimensional maximum-intensity projection images reconstructed from the CT data further add to the radiologist’s ability to accurately classify injuries and assist orthopedic surgeons in operative planning.
Manual detection of pelvic fracture from CT images may be challenging because of low resolution and complex pelvic structures. According to Wu et al, automated fracture detection from segmented bones can help analyze pelvic CT images and detect severity of injuries. [14]
In a study of 72 patients who underwent abdominal CT and pelvic CT within a 2-week period to evaluate pelvic fractures, abdominal CT alone was found in many cases to be sufficient detection of pelvic fractures. [15]
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not used to evaluate pelvic ring fractures. MRI is helpful in diagnosing occult fractures, particularly in osteoporotic patients.
In a study of 60 patients with radiographic signs of an anterior pelvic ring injury, MRI detected posterior pelvic ring fracture in 48. According to the study, 8 cases of posterior pelvic ring fracture would have been missed if only CT had been used. MRI of the pelvis was found to be particularly superior in detecting undislocated fractures in patients with a high incidence of osteoporosis. [16]
Ultrasonography is not used to evaluate pelvic ring fractures. Lower-extremity Doppler ultrasonography is used to assess for the presence of lower-extremity deep venous thrombosis.
Angiography is used to diagnose and treat potentially life-threatening hemorrhage secondary to pelvic ring injury. Pelvic arteriography demonstrates the injured vessels responsible for the hemorrhage. The vessels may then be embolized to control or stop the bleeding.
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Nüchtern JV, Hartel MJ, Henes FO, Groth M, Jauch SY, Haegele J, et al. Significance of clinical examination, CT and MRI scan in the diagnosis of posterior pelvic ring fractures. Injury. 2015 Feb. 46 (2):315-9. [Medline].
Claudia T Sadro, MD, FABR, FRCPC Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, Divisions of Body and Emergency Radiology, Harborview Medical Center and University of Washington Medical Center
Claudia T Sadro, MD, FABR, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Radiological Society of North America, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, American Society of Emergency Radiology, Pacific Northwest Radiological Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Bernard D Coombs, MB, ChB, PhD Consulting Staff, Department of Specialist Rehabilitation Services, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Theodore E Keats, MD Professor, Departments of Radiology and Orthopedics, University of Virginia School of Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Felix S Chew, MD, MBA, MEd Professor, Department of Radiology, Vice Chairman for Academic Innovation, Section Head of Musculoskeletal Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Felix S Chew, MD, MBA, MEd is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society, Association of University Radiologists, Radiological Society of North America
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
Amilcare Gentili, MD Professor of Clinical Radiology, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Radiology, Thornton Hospital; Chief of Radiology, San Diego Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
Amilcare Gentili, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Roentgen Ray Society, Radiological Society of North America, Society of Skeletal Radiology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
D Dean Thornton, MD Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Radiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine; Musculoskeletal Radiologist, Radology Associates of Birmingham, PC
D Dean Thornton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, Medical Association of the State of Alabama, Radiological Society of North America, and Society of Skeletal Radiology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.
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