Eighty one cases of the pelvic fractures treated at the orthopedic department of Pusan National University Hospital during the period from January 1960 to August 1970, were analyzed clinically. The results obtained were as follow:
1. The causes of fractures of the pelvic bone were mostly due to traffic accident (83%), industrial injury (7.4%), fall from a height (6%) and direct injury (3.7%).
2. 60% of the pelvic bone fractures were complicated by other bone fractures and soft tissue injuries.
3. The most common complication was the injury of the urinary system, and in neglected cases to treat it, severe sequellae such as stricture and urinary fistula were developed.
4. In cases of perineal laceration, it was possible to associate the infection to the adjacent hip joint by direct spread.
5. Open fracture associating severe soft tissue injury had poor prognosis. 4 cases out of 5 deaths had open fractures.
6. The main cause of death was the hypovolemic shock due to intrapelvic bleeding. Therefore, immediate massive transfusion as life-saving measure was stressed.
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