Abstract
From May, 1975 to April, 1982, fifty patients of pelvic fractures with, primarily pelvic ring disruptions were treated. These fractures were classified according to the direction of force by the method devised by Pennal et al. Five representative cases were described with special reference to their pathologic and therapeutic view points. There included one open-book fracture, one ipsilateral compression fracture, one contralateral compression fracture, and two four-rami fractures of lateral compression. Following results were obtained: 1) 86% of the patients (43) had lateral compression type fractures. 2) Of lateral compression type fractures, the most common pattern was the four-rami fracture with posterior disruption comprising 44% of all fifty patients. 3) Four patients (8% of the total) showed stable open-book fractures requiring pelvic sling therapy. This number was smaller than at first expected. This study suggested that pelvic ring disruptions should be accurately classified and the grade of injury accurately estimated so that an appropriate method of therapy can be determined promptly.
