Pelvic splints for all types of suspected pelvic fractures

Date First Published:
April 12, 2010
Last Updated:
November 24, 2010
Report by:
Natalie Evans, GDMO (Army)
Search checked by:
Surg Cdr Jason Smith RN, Army
Three-Part Question:
In [patients with pelvic injuries other than open book fractures] does [application of a pelvic splint] affect [survival, outcome or the incidence of adverse effects]?
Clinical Scenario:
A 30-year-old man falls from a third storey window on to concrete. He complains of pain around his pelvis. You know that a vertical shear injury is more likely than an open book pelvic injury with this mechanism, and wonder whether you should apply a pelvic splint before he reaches hospital, when he arrives, or not at all.
Search Strategy:
Ovid MEDLINE(R) 1950 to August Week 3 2010: ((exp Pelvic Bones/OR exp Pelvis/AND exp Fractures, Bone/) OR pelvic injur$.mp) AND exp splints/. Limit to English language and humans 15 records.

The Cochrane Library August 2010: MeSH descriptor Pelvis explode all trees AND MeSH descriptor Fractures, Bone explode all trees 4 records 0 relevant.
Outcome:
Nineteen unique papers were found, of which none presented any evidence to answer the question.
Relevant Paper(s):
Study Title Patient Group Study type (level of evidence) Outcomes Key results Study Weaknesses
Author Commentary:
The question has not been answered with any research. Only level 5 evidence (opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical evidence, descriptive studies or reports of expert consensus committees) was available.
Bottom Line:
There is no evidence to answer the question posed. Local advice should be followed
References:
  1. Lee C, Porter K.. The Pre-Hospital Management of Pelvic Fractures.
  2. Melamed E, Blumenfeld A, Kalmovich B et al.. Prehospital Care of Orthopedic Injuries.
  3. Geeraerts T, Chhor V, Cheisson G, et al.. Clinical review: initial management of blunt pelvic trauma patients with haemodynamic instability.