PELVIC FRACTURES - THE GOLDEN HOUR

Major accident units should be able to apply standard treatment method s to control life threatening haemorrhage within the 'Golden Hour: as recommended by the ATLS guidelines. In this study all 31 major acciden t units in Scotland were examined to determine their ability to stabil ize a pelvic fracture within this period.We found that only eight unit s could potentially stabilize a pelvis within 1 h. In eight other unit s no appropriate emergency treatment was available. We recommend that all units designated to receive multiple injuries should have a pelvic stabilization device as well as the training and expertise to use it. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.