We treated 21 patients with high-enrergy injured pelvic fracture from June 1986 to January 1999. Thirteen patients were male and 8 were female. Their mean age was 44.3 years (ranging from 16 to 72). They were followed up for 11 months to 14 years, and the mean follow-up period was 2.9 years. Cause of injury was traffic accident in 16 cases and falling in 3 cases, both of which are considered to be so called high-energy trauma.
According to the Key and Conwell classification systems, 2 cases were classified as type II, 8 as type III, and 11 as type IV. Three cases were treated with traction, 5 with external fixation, 11 with internal fixation, and 1 with THA. One patient died of shock resulting from hemorrhage. In this study we evaluated complications, post-operative results on ambulation status, pain and arthritic changes of X-ray. 17 patients regained ability to walk. None of the type II or III patients suffered pain. In the type IV group, 4 cases experienced slight pain and 7 cases did not experience pain. Evaluation of arthritic changes in X-ray showed no change in types II and III. In type IV, 6 cases showed to no change, 2 cases slight, 1 case moderate, and 2 cases indicated severe osteoarthritis.
