Pelvic Ring Injury Mortality: Are We Getting Better?

Abstract

Objectives: To determine if changes in pelvic trauma care and treatment protocols have affected overall mortality rates after pelvic ring injury.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Level I trauma center.

Patients/participants: A total of 3314 patients with pelvic ring injuries who presented to a single referral center from 1999 to 2018 were included in the study.

Intervention: Pelvic ring management, years 1999-2006 versus years 2007-2018.

Main outcome measurements: In hospital mortality. Other examined variables included change in patient demographics, fracture characteristics, date of injury, associated injuries, length of hospital stay, Abbreviated Injury Severity Score.

Results: The composite mortality rate was 6.5% (214/3314). The earliest cohort presented a mortality rate of 9.1% [111/1224; 95% confidence interval (CI), 7.6%-10.8%] compared with the more recent cohort mortality rate of 4.9% (103/2090; 95% CI, 4.1%-5.9%). Overall mortality was significantly lower in the more recent period, a risk difference of 4.1% (95% CI, 2.3%-6.1%; P < 0.01). After adjusting for age and Abbreviated Injury Severity Score of the brain, chest, and abdomen, the mortality reduction was more pronounced with an adjusted risk difference of 6.4% (95% CI, 4.7%-8.1%; P < 0.01).

Conclusion: Significant improvement in the mortality rate of pelvic ring injuries has been demonstrated in recent years (4.9% vs. 9.1%) and the difference is even large when accounting for known confounders. Improvement appears to coincide chronologically with changes in trauma resuscitation and implementation of adjuvant treatments for managing patients with severe hemorrhagic shock. Although the exact benefit of each treatment awaits further research, these data might indicate improved care over time for these difficult patients.

Level of evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.