Benefits of early application of pelvic circumferential compression device to reduce bleeding in pelvic fractures

Background

To study of efficacy of early pelvic circumferential compression device using in patients with suspected pelvic trauma, compared with conventional stepwise approach.

Methods

Traumatic injury and at least one of the following criteria are required for inclusion: loss of consciousness or a Glasgow coma score (GCS) of less than 13; systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg; falling from more than 6 m; injury to several important organs; and a positive pelvic compression test. Patients who satisfied the inclusion criteria for the experimental group were given an early application of a commercial pelvic sling beginning in July 2019. The control group consisted of cases who got the device after clinical or radiological confirmation of a pelvic fracture in the previous year. Gender, age, mechanism of injury, GCS, hospital stay, amount of packed red blood cell transfusion, hematocrit in emergency room, and hematocrit 24 h after application of pelvic binder were all assessed and compared.

Results

The study had a total of 30 participants, with 15 in each group. The number of packed red blood cell transfusions in the early pelvic binder group (0.80 ± 1.42) is considerably lower than in the control group (2.4 ± 2.32) (P = 0.008), although the hematocrit change is not statistically different between the groups (2.1 VS 0.7) (P = 0.191). The time it took to install a pelvic binder was considerably shorter in the early pelvic binder group (16.40 ± 5.45) than in the control group (40.40 ± 13.64) (P = 0.001). There were no problems associated to soft tissue and skin necrosis in either group of patients.

Conclusions

The use of the PCCD for 24 h prior to clinical and radiographic confirmation has significantly reduced the rate of packed red blood cell transfusion in any pelvic fracture patient without device-related complications.

Trial registration

The study was entered into the Thai Clinical Trials Registry (TCTR20210809007).

Pelvic circumferential compression devices for prehospital management of suspected pelvic fractures: a rapid review and evidence summary for quality indicator evaluation

BACKGROUND

Pelvic fractures, especially when unstable, may cause significant haemorrhage. The early application of a pelvic circumferential compression device (PCCD) in patients with suspected pelvic fracture has established itself as best practice. Ambulance services conduct corresponding performance measurement. Quality indicators (QIs) are ideally based on high-quality evidence clearly demonstrating that the desirable effects outweigh the undesirable effects. In the absence of high-quality evidence, best available evidence should be combined with expert consensus.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to identify, appraise and summarize the best available evidence regarding PCCDs for the purpose of informing an expert panel tasked to evaluate the validity of the following QI: A patient with suspected pelvic fracture has a PCCD applied.

METHODS

A rapid review of four databases was conducted to identify relevant literature published up until 9 June 2020. Systematic reviews, experimental, quasi-experimental and observational analytic studies written in English were included. One author was responsible for study selection and quality appraisal. Data extraction using a priori extraction templates was verified by a second reviewer. Study details and key findings were summarized in tables.

RESULTS

A total of 13 studies were assessed to be eligible for inclusion in this rapid review. Of these, three were systematic reviews, one was a randomized clinical trial (crossover design), two were before-after studies, and seven were retrospective cohort studies. The systematic reviews included mostly observational studies and could therefore not be considered as high-level evidence. Overall, the identified evidence is of low quality and suggests that PCCD may provide temporary pelvic ring stabilization and haemorrhage control, although a potential for adverse effects exists.

CONCLUSION

Given the low quality of the best available evidence, this evidence would need to be combined with expert consensus to evaluate the validity of a related quality indicator before its implementation.

To log-roll or not to log-roll - That is the question! A review of the use of the log-roll for patients with pelvic fractures

Pelvic fractures are one of the most serious injuries in polytrauma - massive haemorrhage is a major complication and the leading cause of death. The assessment and early management of these injuries in the Emergency Department (ED) focuses on the recognition of haemodynamic instability and should follow Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) guidelines. The log-roll technique, although an accepted practice in trauma care, has been reported to be inadvisable when a pelvic fracture is suspected. This paper, which includes a case study, briefly explains the pathophysiology and initial management of pelvic fractures. It aims to emphasise how the use of the log-roll can affect the haemodynamic stability of a patient with a pelvic fracture, highlighting gaps in research, along with the ethical and legal implications associated with polytrauma care. It also encourages practitioners to consider reasonable alternatives to the log-roll technique when beneficial and applicable.