Surgery for a pelvic fracture

Surgery becomes necessary in the case of a pelvic fracture if the pelvis is not stable but unstable. Due to the position of the pelvis, injuries often involve large blood vessels, so that massive bleeding can occur, which requires immediate surgical treatment and a supply of blood. Depending on the type and location, the actual pelvic fracture is first either stabilized and immobilized with pelvic forceps (to stop the bleeding) or with a fracture support system that is attached to the bone through the skin (a so-called external fixator). If the hip joint is also affected, it is important to operate on it as well. This should be done by a surgeon specialized in this field to prevent later hip arthrosis.

Duration of recovery

The duration of recovery from a pelvic fracture also depends on the type and severity of the injury and, if necessary, the surgical procedure chosen and other injuries. In the case of a stable pelvic fracture, which can be treated conservatively, the recovery period is usually 4-8 weeks. In the case of unstable pelvic fractures, in which the pelvis may also be broken in several places and perhaps the hip joint is also affected, the healing process may take several months. Subsequently, physiotherapy is usually required to restore muscle strength, mobility and stability.

Pelvis fracture during birth

A pelvic fracture during the birth of a child can theoretically occur, but in practice it is rather rare. Although the pelvis, together with the vaginal opening, vagina and cervix, forms the birth canal of the child, it is very unlikely that the pelvic bone will break during birth. It is more likely that the symphysis, also called pubic symphysis, which forms a cartilaginous connection between the two halves of the pelvis, will tear at birth (symphysis rupture).

However, this is also more likely to occur in petite women who give birth to relatively large babies, as pregnancy causes a hormone-induced symphysis loosening, whereby the ligaments of the pubic symphysis widen for delivery to create more space in the birth canal. For the pregnant woman, this becomes noticeable by pressure pain in the pubic region or pain in the groin area, which increases as the birth date approaches. If the doctors suspect the risk of a pelvic fracture during the birth due to the anatomy of the woman or the size of the child, they will usually recommend a caesarean section in advance. During pregnancy a pubic bone branch fracture may occur.