THE PELVIC FRACTURE IN CHILDHOOD - A REPORT SUPPORTING NONOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT

A 12 year retrospective review provides a group of 68 children with pe lvic fractures. The distribution and type of fractures are similar to those of adults. The most common aetiology is an automobile-pedestrian accident. The average age is 8 years; male patients ave nearly twice as common. Over 73 per cent are stable injuries. The fractures rarely occurred as isolated injuries. Morbidity is related to associated inju ry, both orthopaedic and non-orthopaedic. One-third of patients had an associated head injury. Over 10 per cent of patients had a urethral i njury, an incidence higher than in published series. This review, coup led with a literature review, supports a nonoperative approach in orth opaedic management of the child.