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Physical therapy, the use of crutches and, rarely, surgery may be recommended. Healing can take eight to 12 weeks. Severe injuries to the pelvis that involve several breaks can be life-threatening. Shock, extensive internal bleeding and internal organs damage may be involved.
While it is the common consensus that Type B or Type C pelvic ring fractures are severe injuries with a high morbidity risk and mortality rates up to 20% (for Type C injuries), fractures of the anterior pelvic ring are often considered as minor injuries, especially if they are not displaced.
With a broken pelvis you cannot walk, sit or move well without pain. The pelvis protects the bladder, intestines and many important blood vessels. Many of the important leg muscles and abdominal muscles attach to the pelvis and allow for body motion and function.
A sacral stress fracture is a hairline crack in the pelvic bone. This type of fracture is relatively uncommon but is usually caused by repetitive stress rather than a single accident. It usually affects the bottom of the pelvis, but can affect the front joint between the two pelvic bones.
Most pelvic fractures heal on their own. The local tissues in the area of the fracture frequently keep the fracture pieces in order and the bones heal with a little rest and good nutrition.
Healing can take eight to 12 weeks. Severe injuries to the pelvis that involve several breaks can be life-threatening. Shock, extensive internal bleeding and internal organs damage may be involved. The immediate goal is to control bleeding and stabilize the injured person’s condition.
A pelvic fracture is a crack or break in one or more bones in the pelvis. These types of fractures can cause pain and difficulty walking or standing; some may also cause bleeding from pelvic cavities due to the fracture’s close proximity to major blood vessels, and difficulty urinating.
The highly trained team of physicians and therapists at NYU Langone’s Rusk Rehabilitation has helped many people recover from hip and pelvic fractures. Therapies such as heat and ice, massage, acupressure, and acupuncture aid in relieving pain and reducing inflammation after an injury or surgery.
A hip fracture can be repaired with the help of metal screws, plates and rods. In some cases, artificial replacements (prostheses) of parts of the hip joint may be necessary. Treatment for hip fracture usually involves a combination of surgery, rehabilitation and medication.
A fractured pelvis is almost always painful. This pain is aggravated by moving the hip or attempting to walk. Often, the patient will try to keep his or her hip or knee bent in a specific position to avoid aggravating the pain. Some patients may experience swelling or bruising in the hip area.
X-ray: Hairline fractures often aren’t visible on X-rays immediately after the injury. The fracture may become visible a few weeks after the injury takes place, when a callus has formed around the healing area.
A hairline fracture is generally not very serious and can be treated with rest. It will heal itself in a few weeks, provided it is left alone. The majority of hairline fractures will heal by themselves if the person refrains from activities that strain the affected area.
When a bone fracture is untreated, it can result in either a nonunion or a delayed union. In the former case, the bone doesn’t heal at all, which means that it will remain broken. As a result, swelling, tenderness, and pain will continue to worsen over time.
If you break your pelvis, it can be painful and hard to move, but a broken pelvis isn’t nearly as dangerous or as common as a hip fracture. The pelvis is the ring of bones that sits below your belly button andabove your legs. You usually won’t need surgery to fix a break unless it’s a severe one.
Invest in a specialized pillow, like a body pillow, for elevation—keeping the broken bone above your heart prevents blood from pooling and causing swelling. Try sleeping on your back first while propped up on a few pillows. If that doesn’t work, slowly adjust yourself to a side position if possible.
Major and unstable pelvic fractures are likely to cause severe pain and shock. Pain may be in the pelvis, groin, back, tummy (abdomen), or down the legs. The pelvic bones are large and have a rich blood supply, so when broken they will bleed heavily and the bleeding will not stop quickly.