J Trauma
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Multicenter Study
Mortality in patients with pelvic fractures: results from the German pelvic injury register.
Pelvic and acetabular fractures are rare injuries and account for approximately 3% to 8% of all fractures. Often the result of high energy blunt trauma, most of the patients sustaining pelvic injuries are at high risk of associated injuries strongly influencing outcome and survival rates. Because of anatomic differences it has been suggested that pediatric pelvic fractures are different injuries as compared with that of adults. However, this has been controversially discussed. Aim of this multicenter register study was to identify similarities and differences between pediatric and adult pelvic trauma and evaluate the influence of changes in medical treatment by comparison of two treatment periods. ⋯ The survival rate of patients sustaining pelvic fracture has improved significantly within the last decade. Most deaths in patients with pelvic fractures are not caused by the pelvic fracture itself but are linked to associated injuries. Despite anatomic and epidemiologic differences there are significant similarities between pediatric and adult patients with pelvic injuries and the mortality rate of children is not different from that of adults.