Diagnosis
When detecting a pubic bone branchial fracture, it is very important to ask the patient about the cause of the accident or the origin of the pain. During the so-called anamnesis, the doctor asks the patient questions such as when and where the pain started and how severe the pain is, in order to then examine the patient for possible causes. In the case of a pubic bone branch fracture, the doctor palpates the patient’s hip and examines it for external injuries.
An imaging method is indispensable for a precise examination. Computer tomography (CT) is the most accurate way to determine the diagnosis and also shows the severity and extent of the injury. This also allows the planning of therapeutic measures.
Treatment and therapy – from when can I start again?
The treatment depends on the degree of injury. If there is an incomplete pubic ramus fracture, no surgery is required, since the fracture usually heals on its own in about 3 months. The primary goal here is to relieve the pain.
The doctor usually orders a few days of bed rest and prescribes painkillers. Stabilizing the pelvis is also part of relieving the pain. Afterwards it is important to mobilize the patient, i.e. to encourage exercise, to prevent blood clots from forming due to lack of exercise.
Mobilization also counteracts the loss of muscle strength and mobility, which is naturally caused by lack of exercise. If both pubic bone branches are broken or bone segments have shifted, a surgical intervention is indispensable. During this procedure the bone segments are moved back into the correct position and fixed from the outside.
The fixation is performed by so-called fixators. These are plates or splints which are attached to the hip from the outside like a framework and keep it stable. In most cases, a complicated pubic bone branch fracture leads to severe bleeding.The treatment also includes stopping the bleeding as quickly as possible or removing large bruises.
It depends largely on the condition of the patient and the extent of the injury when the hip can be put under more strain again, so there is no general answer to this question. The patient can orientate himself according to the intensity of the pain. If the pain already occurs at low load, the patient should continue to take it easy. In case of doubt, it is always advisable to consult an orthopedic surgeon, as he can best assess the course of the disease and the healing process.
All articles in this series:
