SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPLICATIONS OF OPEN PELVIC TRAUMA

Open pelvic fractures are rare fractures usually resulting from a seve re trauma. Only 4 of 121 patients treated operatively in 1994 for a pe lvic trauma showed an open injury. The high lethality is caused by two complications: in the early phase the patient is threatened by bleedi ng to death and in the following course sepsis determines the lethal o utcome. Only an aggressive surgical management prevents or treats such complications. The presented concept comprises in the end the hemipel vectomy and an intensive care management for prophylaxis of septic com plications. So the lethality was diminished.