5 Symptoms of Pelvic Fractures
The pelvis is a ring of bones at the hip area, made of various separate bones. A pelvic fracture is a break of one of those bones. In some cases, fractures occur in more than one bone, which can be more severe as the bones are more likely to slip out of line.
What is a pelvic fracture?
A pelvic fracture is a break in any of the bones that make up the pelvis structure. The pelvis is a ring of bones in a bowl shape that attaches the legs to the trunk. The shape of the pelvis is meant to protect the inside organs of the body, like the bladder, womb, and ovaries. Sometimes, pelvic fractures can lead to injuries to more than one of these organs.
Types of Pelvic Fracture
Since your pelvis is made of multiple bones, there are different types of pelvic fractures. In general, there are different types of pelvic fractures, which depend on the pattern of the break.
1. Closed or open fractures
If the fractured bone gets broken and doesn’t come out of the skin, it is called a closed fracture, and if the broken bone comes out through the surrounding skin, then it is known as an open fracture or compound fracture.
2. Complete fracture
It happens when your pelvic bone gets broken into two pieces.
3. Displaced fractures
When a gap occurs in a place where the bone gets fractured, it is known as a displaced fracture.
4. Partial fractures
It occurs when the fracture doesn’t go all the way through your bone.
5. Stable Pelvic Fracture
In a stable pelvic fracture, one bone gets broken into two pieces, and the broken bones don’t get displaced. Pelvic fractures that happen from low-impact events, for instance, a minor fall or running, are usually stable fractures.
6. Unstable fractures
In an unstable pelvic fracture, more than one or two bones get broken, and the ends of broken bones are displaced. Unstable pelvic fractures usually happen due to high-impact events such as car accidents.
Causes of Pelvic Fracture
Pelvic fractures usually happen due to trauma and degenerative causes. Through the medication procedure, mild cases can be treated, but intense cases require urgent medical attention to prevent damage to other organs.
Some common causes of pelvic fracture include-
Decorative conditions
It happens to people who have weaker bones caused by conditions like osteoporosis. It can increase the intensity of mild and minor fractures.
High-impact trauma injuries
It generally happens due to high-impact accidents such as car or motorcycle accidents and falls from a height.
High-contact athletic activities
This generally happens to athletes who have avulsion features, where the tendons of the hamstring muscle separate from the bone.
Symptoms of Pelvic Fracture
The symptom of a pelvic fracture depends on the intensity of the fracture. The symptoms of pelvic fracture include-
- Pain in your groin, hip, and lower back.
- Excessive pain while walking or moving your legs.
- Numbness or tingling in your legs.
- Pain in your abdomen.
- Facing difficulty during peeing.
- Difficulty in walking and standing.
Diagnosis of Pelvic Fracture
The following tests can be used to diagnose a pelvic fracture-
X-ray
X-rays use radiation to take pictures of the bones. Your orthopedic doctor in Kanpur said all pelvic fractures require an x-ray for a clear vision of the part of your pelvis that is fractured and how intense or mild the fracture is so that they can know how the fracture needs to be treated.
CT Scan
A CT Scan uses multiple X-rays taken from different angles of your body to produce detailed images. A CT scan provides more detailed pictures than an X-ray does. An orthopedic doctor in Kanpur requires a CT scan to learn more about your pelvic fracture.
MRI
An MRI uses large magnet radio waves and a computer to make detailed images of your broken bones and organs. The best orthopedic doctor in Kanpur needs an MRI for a detailed vision of your pelvic area or broken bone area.
Treatment of Pelvic Fracture
Treatment for a pelvic fracture depends on specific characteristics, including:
- How mild or severe your fracture is
- The pattern of the fracture
- Which bones are displaced, and how much do they get displaced.
- Your overall health
Treatment for Stable Fracture
Rest: The orthopedic doctor in Kanpur recommends you rest as much as possible and not put any extra stress and pressure on your pelvic area.
Walking Aids: Depending upon the location of your pelvic fracture, the orthopedic doctor in Kanpur may suggest you use crutches, a walker, or a wheelchair for walking to avoid bearing weight on your legs. You might need these walking aids for more than three months or until your pelvic fracture fully heals.
Medication: The best orthopedic doctor in Kanpur might prescribe medicines to relieve your pain. Some orthopaedic surgeons may also prescribe blood thinner medicine to reduce the chances of blood clots in the legs and pelvis.
Treatment for Unstable Pelvic Fracture
External Fixation: An orthopedic doctor in Kanpur uses external fixation to stabilize the pelvis area after the fracture. In this surgery, most orthopaedic surgeons use metal pins or screws and insert them into your bone through a small surgical procedure. The one and screw stick on your skin on both sides of your pelvis and are connected to bars outside your body.
Skeletal Traction: This is a pulley system outside of your body that helps you to realign the pieces of broken bones. During the procedure, orthopaedic surgeons implant metal pins in your thigh bone or shiny bone that stick out of your skin to help position your legs.
Open reduction and internal fixation: During the surgery, the displaced pelvic bone fragments are first repositioned into their regular alignment. The pieces are then held together with metal plates and screws that are linked to the exterior of the bone.