• To enhance your knowledge of the risks associated with pelvic fractures caused by high-energy trauma
• To recognise the importance of conducting a primary survey adapted to patients with severe pelvic fractures
• To identify the management priorities for patients who have sustained high-energy trauma to the pelvis
Pelvic fractures caused by high-energy trauma such as falling from a height or road traffic collisions have a high mortality rate and patients are also at high risk of life-changing injuries. High-energy trauma to the pelvis is associated with major haemorrhage and injuries to the internal pelvic organs. Emergency nurses have a fundamental role in the initial assessment and management of patients, as well as in their ongoing care once the fracture has been stabilised and bleeding is controlled. This article describes the anatomy of the pelvis, discusses the initial assessment and management of patients who have sustained high-energy pelvic trauma, details the complications of pelvic fractures and explains patients’ ongoing care in the emergency department.
Emergency Nurse. doi: 10.7748/en.2023.e2151
Peer reviewThis article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
Correspondenceheather.jarman@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Conflict of interestNone declared
Charsley J, Jarman H (2023) Assessment and management of pelvic fractures from high-energy trauma in adults. Emergency Nurse. doi: 10.7748/en.2023.e2151
Published online: 07 March 2023
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