Growing teens involved in sports and elderly people with osteoporosis are at higher risk for pelvic fractures. Pelvic fractures can occur from high-energy injuries like falls, MVAs, or crush accidents. Symptoms include pain, swelling, and bruising. X-rays and CT scans are used for diagnosis. Treatment depends on whether the fracture is stable or unstable, and may involve nonsurgical methods like rest, crutches, and medication or surgical methods like external fixators, plates and screws. Physical therapy focuses on exercises, balance training, and reducing pain and impaired mobility.

2.  Definitions
 Causes
 Symptoms
 Diagnosis
 Treatment
 Interventions
 Outcome

3.  Fracture - the separation of an object or
material into two or more pieces under
the action of stress.
 Pelvis – three bones make up each side
of the pelvis. (ilium, ishium, and pubis).
They are connected to the sacrum by
ligaments.

4.  Growing teens involved with sports have a
higher risk for a pelvic fracture.
› Undetected avulsion fractures of the pelvis are
many times mistaken for many “pulled muscles.”
› Most often this fracture will occur with sudden
muscle contractions.
› The muscles will tear away a small piece of bone
from the ischium where the hamstring muscles
attach
* This type of fracture does not make the
pelvis unstable or injure internal organs

5.  Elderly people with
osteoporosis.
› May fracture pelvis during a fall.
 These injuries do not usually
damage the structural integrity
of the pelvic ring, but may
fracture an individual bone.

6.  High- energy forces – what most
fractures involve
› MVA
› Crush accident
› Falls
 Surgical treatment may need to be
done, depending on the direction and
degree of the forces
 Injuries can possibly be life-threatening.

7.  Pain
 Swelling
 Bruises
 Body Position

8.  X-Rays
 CT scans
› Blood vessels and nerves

9.  Nonsurgical
› Stable fracture
› Use of crutches or walker
 Partial weight bearing up to 3 months
› Medication

10.  Surgical
› Unstable fractures
› External fixator
› Traction
› Plates and screws

11.  E-stim
› EMS
› HVPC
› NMES
› TENS
 Thermotherapy
 Rom and stretching
 Exercises-GS, LAQ,
Ab sets, SLR
 Balance,
Coordination and
agility
 Relaxation

12.  Stable vs. non-stable
 Gait
 Subsequent Problems
› Pain
› Impaired mobility
› Sexual dysfunction

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American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Sept. 2007.
Web. 24 Nov. 2010.
<http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00223>.
4. Moffat, Marilyn, Andrew Guccione, and Jayne Snyder.
"Impairments/ Fracture." Guide to Physical Therapist Practice.
Second ed. Alexandria, Virginia: American Physical Therapy
Association, 2001. S233-248. Print.