• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2020

Purpose: Damage control laparotomy has contributed to improved survival rates for severe abdominal injuries. A large part of severe abdominal injury occurs with a concomitant pelvic bone fracture. The safety and effectiveness of internal fixation of pelvic bone fracture(s) has not been established. The aim of the present study was to evaluate infection risk in the pelvic surgical site in patients who underwent emergent abdominal surgery. Methods: This single-center retrospective observational study was based on data collected from a prospectively maintained registry between January 2015 and June 2019. Patients who underwent laparotomy and pelvic internal fixation were included. Individuals <18 and ≥80 years of age, those with no microbiological investigations, and those who underwent one-stage abdominal surgery were excluded. Comprehensive statistical comparative analysis was not performed due to the small number of enrolled patients. Results: A total of six patients met the inclusion criteria, and the most common injury mechanism was anterior-posterior compression (67%). The average duration of open abdomen was 98 hours (range, 44-98), and the time interval between abdominal closure and pelvic surgery was 98 hours. One patient (16.7%) died due to multi-organ dysfunction syndrome. Micro-organisms were identified in the abdominal surgical site in five patients (83%), with no micro-organisms in pelvic surgical sites. There was no unplanned implant removal. Conclusions: Internal fixation of pelvic bone fracture(s) could be performed in the state of open abdomen, and the advantages of early fixation may countervail the risks for cross contamination.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 2021

Purpose: Severe pelvic fractures are associated with genitourinary injuries, but the relationship between pelvic trauma and concomitant urethral injuries has yet to be elucidated. This study evaluated the incidence, mechanism, site, and extent of urethral injuries in male patients with pelvic fractures. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed involving patients with urethral injuries accompanying pelvic fractures who visited Pusan National University Hospital from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2019. Demographics, mechanisms of injury, clinical features of the urethral injuries, concomitant bladder injuries, methods of management, and the configuration of the pelvic fractures were analyzed. Results: The final study population included 24 patients. The overall incidence of urethral injury with pelvic fracture was 2.6%, with the most common mechanism of urethral injury being traffic accidents (62.5%). Complete urethral disruption (16/24, 66.7%) was more common than partial urethral injuries (8/24, 33.3%), and unstable pelvic fractures were the most common type of pelvic fracture observed (70.8%). There was no definitive relationship between the extent of urethral injury and pelvic ring stability. Conclusions: The present study provides a 6-year retrospective review characterizing the incidence, mechanism, and clinical features of urethral injury-associated pelvic fractures. This study suggests that the possibility of urethral injury must be considered, especially in unstable pelvic fracture patients, and that treatment should be chosen based on the clinical findings.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.144-148
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• 2015

Purpose: Immediate identification of vascular injury requiring embolization in patients with pelvic bone fracture isn't an easy task. There have been many trials finding indicators of embolization for patients with pelvic bone fracture. Although Young and Burgess classification is useful in decision making of treatment, it is reported to have little value as indicator of embolization in major trauma patients. The aim of this study is to find out Young and burgess classification on predicting vessel injury by analzyng pelvic radiograph taken from major trauma patients with pelvic bone fracture. Methods: Among major trauma patients with injury severity scores (ISS) higher than 15 who visited our emergency room from January 2011 to June 2014, 200 patients were found with pelvic bone fracture in trauma series and thus pelvic CT angiography was taken. Setting aside patients with exclusion criteria, 153 patients were enrolled in this study for analysis of Young and Burgess classification. Results: The most common mechanism of injury was lateral compression in both groups. There was no statistical significant difference in Young and Burgess classification (p=0.397). The obturator artery was the most commonly injured artery in both groups. Six patients had more than one site of bleeding. Conclusion: Prediction of transcatheter angiographic embolization using Young and Burgess classification in severe trauma patients is difficult and requires additional studies.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2007

Purpose: This research was conducted to study whether the specific location of pelvic-bone fractures could increase the risk for injury to the urinary bladder, urethra, or lower gastrointestinal tract. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 234 patients with pelvic-bone fractures who visited the emergency department of Kyungpook National University Hospital from January 2004 to December 2006. The location of the pelvic-bone fracture was divided into 8 parts. The association of fracture location with injury to the urinary bladder, urethra, or lower gastrointestinal tract was analyzed with Fisher' s-exact test and multiple logistic regression. Results: Nineteen(19) patients had urinary bladder injury, 8 had urethral injury, and 9 had lower gastrointestinal tract injury. The following fracture locations were found to be significant; urinary bladder: sacroiliac (SI) joint (p<0.001), symphysis pubis (p=0.011), and sacrum (p=0.005); urethra: SI joint (p=0.020); lower gastrointestinal tract: symphysis pubis (p=0.028). After the multiple logistic regression analysis, the primary and the independent predictors for each of the injuries were as follows; urinary bladder: sacroiliac joint (p=0.000, odds ratio [OR]=10.469); lower gastrointestinal tract: symphysis pubis (p=0.037, OR=7.009). Conclusion: Consideration of further workup for injuries to the lower gastrointestinal and urinary tract is needed for some locations of pelvic-bone fractures because certain pelvic-bone fracture locations, especially the sacroiliac joint and the symphysis pubis, are associated with increased risk for injury to the lower gastrointestinal and urinary tracts.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.139-144
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• 2012

Purpose: Hypovolemic shock is the leading cause of death in multiple trauma patients with pelvic bone fracures. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple prediction method for injury severity and amount of hemorrhage via an analysis of the correlation between the site of pelvic bone fracture and the amount of transfusion and to verify the usefulness of the such a simple scoring system. Methods: We analyzed retrospectively the medical records and radiologic examination of 102 patients who had been diagnosed as having a pelvic bone fracture and who had visited the Emergency Department between January 2007 and December 2011. Fracture sites in the pelvis were confirmed and re-classified anatomically as pubis, ilium or sacrum. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed on the amount of transfusion, and a simplified scoring system was developed. The predictive value of the amount of transfusion for the scoring system as verified by using the receiver operating characteristics (ROC). The area under the curve of the ROC was compared with the injury severity score (ISS). Results: From among the 102 patients, 97 patients (M:F=68:29, mean $age=46.7{\pm}16.6years$) were enrolled for analysis. The average ISS of the patients was $16.2{\pm}7.9$, and the average amount of packed RBC transfusion for 24 hr was $3.9{\pm}4.6units$. The regression equation resulting from the multiple linear regression analysis was 'packed RBC units=1.40${\times}$(sacrum fracture)+1.72${\times}$(pubis fracture)+1.67${\times}$(ilium fracture)+0.36' and was found to be suitable (p=0.005). We simplified the regression equation to 'Pelvic Bleeding Score=sacrum+pubis+ilium.' Each fractured site was scored as 0(no fracture) point, 1(right or left) point, or 2(both) points. Sacrum had only 0 or 1 point. The score ranged from 0 to 5. The area under the curve (AUC) of the ROC was 0.718 (95% CI: 0.588-0.848, p=0.009). For an upper Pelvis Bleeding Score of 3 points, the sensitivity of the prediction for a massive transfusion was 71.4%, and the specificity was 69.9%. Conclusion: We developed a simplified scoring system for the anatomical fracture sites in the pelvis to predict the requirement for a transfusion (Pelvis Bleeding Score (PBS)). The PBS, compared with the ISS, is considered a useful predictor of the need for a transfusion during initial management.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.206-211
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• 2009

Purpose: Abdominal CT (computed tomography) is a principal diagnostic imaging modality for torso trauma at the Emergency Department (ED). When acute osseous pelvic injuries are detected by abdominal CT, additional three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction pelvic CT is often performed. We compared abdominal CT with pelvic CT to provide information about acute osseous pelvic injuries. Methods: A retrospective investigation of patients'electronic medical records during the five year period between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2008 among Korean soldiers who underwent pelvic CT after abdominal CT at the ED was conducted. Axial images of abdominal CT were compared with axial images and 3D reconstruction images of pelvic CT. Results: Sixteen patients underwent subsequent pelvic CT after abdominal CT. Axial images of abdominal CT showed the same results in terms of fracture detection and classification when compared to axial images and 3D reconstruction images of pelvic CT. Pelvic CT (including 3D reconstruction images) followed by abdominal CT neither detected additional fracture nor changed the fracture type. Conclusion: This study has failed to show any superiority of pelvic CT (including 3D reconstruction images) over abdominal CT in detecting acute osseous pelvic injury. When 3D information is deemed be mandatory, 3D reconstructions of abdominal CT can be requested rather than obtaining an additional pelvic CT for 3D reconstruction.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.60-65
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• 2019

Pelvic fractures are associated with life-threatening injuries and high rates of morbidity and mortality. Management of internal blood loss associated with unstable pelvic ring injuries is paramount during the initial period. The reconstruction of the pelvic ring is of importance because it is a major contributor to the stability of the pelvic ring. We report the case of a 25-year-old man who had an unstable pelvic ring fracture combined with rupture of an obturator artery and had a successful and satisfactory treatment using minimally invasive surgery with percutaneous antegrade screw fixation.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.161-166
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• 2016

Purpose: Bleeding is the primary cause of death after severe pelvic fracture. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) is the mainstay of treatment for arterial bleeding. This study aimed to determine the frequency of bleeding by angiography of blush-positive pelvic fractures on computed tomography (CT) images. The bleeding arteries that were involved were investigated by pelvic angiography. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated 83 pelvic fracture patients who were treated in the intensive care unit of the author's trauma center between January 01, 2013 and April 30, 2015. Results: Overall mortality was 9 of 83 patients (10.8%). Blush was observed in 37 patients; blush-positive patients had significantly higher mortality (24.3%) than blush-negative patients (0%). Twenty-four of the 83 patients (28.9%) underwent pelvic angiography. Bleeding was showed in 22 of 24 patients in pelvic angiography. TAE was successfully performed in 21 (95.5%) of the bleeding 22 patients. Angiography was performed in 23 of 37 blush-positive patients, and arterial bleeding was identified in 21 (91.3%). A total 33 bleeding arteries were identified in 22 angiography-positive patients. The most frequent origin of bleeding was internal iliac artery (69.7%) followed by the external iliac artery (18.2%) and lumbar arteries (12.1%). Conclusion: The vascular blush observed in CT scans indicates sites of ongoing bleeding in pelvic angiography. TAE is an excellent therapeutic option for arterial bleeding and has a high success rate with few complications.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

There has been recent interest in radiation-induced bone injury in clinical conditions, especially for pelvic insufficiency fracture (PIF). A PIF is caused by the effect of normal or physiological stress on bone with demineralization and decreased elastic resistance. Pelvic radiotherapy (RT) can also contribute to the development of a PIF. A PIF has been regarded as a rare complication with the use of megavoltage equipment. However, recent studies have reported the incidence of PIFs as $8.2{\sim}20%$ after pelvic RT in gynecological patients, an incidence that was higher than previously believed. The importance of understanding a PIF lies in the potential for misdiagnosis as a bony metastasis. If patients complain of pelvic pain after whole-pelvis radiation therapy, the presence of a PIF must be considered in the differential diagnosis. The use of multibeam arrangements and conformal RT to reduce the volume and dose of irradiated pelvic bone can be helpful to minimize the risk of fracture. In addition to a PIF, osteonecrosis and avascular necrosis of the femoral head can develop after radiation therapy. Osteoradionecrosis of the pelvic bone is a clinical diagnostic challenge that must be differentiated from an osseous metastasis. A post-radiation bone sarcoma can result as a long-term sequela of pelvic irradiation for uterine cervical cancer.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.74-80
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• 2013

Purpose: There are no detailed reports on the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pelvic and acetabular fractures in the Asian population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of VTE in pelvic and acetabular fractures in the Korean population. Methods: The cases of 67 Korean patients with pelvic and acetabular fractures treated at our hospital from January 2009 to February 2012 were analyzed retrospectively. Until May 2010, VTE screening was performed by contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography (US) when the D-dimer value did not decline predictably, still exceeded $20{\mu}g/ml$ at 5 days after trauma and surgery, or increased to greater than $20{\mu}g/ml$ after a period of decline. After May 2010, contrast-enhanced CT and US were performed routinely irrespective of the D-dimer value. Physical prophylaxis was performed on all patients. The effects of the presence of a pelvic and/or acetabular fracture, and the effects of fracture type, accompanying injuries, and screening strategies on the incidences of VTE were investigated. Results: Overall, 26 patients(38.8%) were diagnosed with VTE and PTE in 14(20.9%). All were asymptomatic. Significantly higher incidences of VTE and PTE were observed in trauma patients with pelvic and acetabular fractures than in trauma patients without pelvic and acetabula fractures treated during the same period. No significant differences were observed in the incidences of VTE and PTE between patients with pelvic fractures, and patients with acetabular fractures or between patients with and without accompanying injuries. Compared with the previous screening strategy, the detection rates for VTE and PTE were higher for the newer screening strategy; however, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: In the Korean population, we should be vigilant for a high incidence of VTE, especially PTE, in patients with pelvic and acetabular fractures.