A RATIONAL APPROACH TO PELVIC TRAUMA - RESUSCITATION AND EARLY DEFINITIVE STABILIZATION

The patient with polytrauma and an unstable pelvic ring injury is a tr eatment challenge. The orthopaedic surgeon should be involved in the c are when the patient is brought into the hospital. Rapid pelvic ring s tability should diminish pelvic hemorrhage. Early treatment decisions have significant impact on subsequent options. A team approach using o pen communication among the various subspecialties allows coordinated care and optimizes outcome. Early, definitive pelvic internal fixation is difficult yet beneficial.