OUTCOME AFTER PELVIC RING FRACTURES - EVALUATION USING THE MEDICAL OUTCOMES SHORT-FORM SF-36

Fifty-five multiply injured patients with operatively treated unstable pelvic fractures were evaluated for patient-oriented outcome measures . Forty-six adult patients were eligible to complete the SF-36 medical outcome score and completed the SF-36 eight scale medical outcome sco re by postal questionnaire at a mean follow up to 2 years. The average Injury Severity Score of the eligible patients was 17.5. The average age of the patients was 32 years and 8 months. Fractures were classifi ed by the Tile classification and there were 13 type B and 33 type C p elvic fractures. Seventy-six pet cent of patients responded to the sur gery. There was a 14 per cent impairment in physical outcome score and a 5.5 per cent impairment in mental outcome score compared With the n ormal population. The physical and mental outcome of multiply injured patients with pelvic fractures can be measured objectively. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.