Fractures of the pelvis are uncommon and range widely from mild (if the minor ring is broken) to severe (if the major ring is broken). Pelvic rings often break in more than one place. A mild fracture (such as may happen from the impact of jogging) may heal in several weeks without surgery.
If you have a pelvis fracture that is treated without surgery, you may be able to walk with crutches or a walker right away. If you have a have a more severe pelvis injury that requires surgery, you may be asked to not put weight on one or both legs.
Pelvic fractures usually take 8 to 12 weeks to fully heal. More severe pelvic fractures could take longer, especially if you have other injuries or medical complications from the event that caused your pelvic fracture.
Treatment for pelvic fractures can be non-surgical or surgical depending on the stability of the broken bone and whether the fracture is displaced or not. Severe pelvic fractures usually require surgery.
A broken pelvis may need a few months to heal. You may have had surgery to repair your pelvis, depending on where it was broken and how bad the break was. Your doctor may have put metal screws, pins, or a rod in your pelvis to fix the break. In some cases, surgery is not needed.
The late sequel of pelvic fracture treatment can cause gait and postural disturbances, chronic pain, genitourinary dysfunction, persistent neurological deficits, and rectal dysfunction.
Arthritis. The biggest long term complication of a broken pelvis is the development of arthritis. The main reason doctors operate on these fractures is that they know from past experience that if they leave the fractures in a poor position, although they will often heal, arthritis may follow within five years.
With a minor fracture, the most common treatment is bed rest, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications or prescription painkillers. Physical therapy, the use of crutches and, rarely, surgery may be recommended. Healing can take eight to 12 weeks.
Those who experience pelvic fractures often face problems later on in life, which are not only painful and inconvenient, but costly to manage and treat. The following are possible long-term or permanent complications of a pelvic fracture: Limping. Patients often limp for several months following their fractures.
In most cases, it's important to avoid sitting for long periods of time during the initial healing phase, which can last several weeks.
A fractured pelvis is almost always painful. This pain is aggravated by moving the hip or attempting to walk. Often, the patient will try to keep their hip or knee bent in a specific position to avoid aggravating the pain. Some patients may experience swelling or bruising in the hip area.
Symptoms of a hip or pelvic fracture include significant, sharp pain in the hip or groin and swelling, bruising, and tenderness in the skin at the site of the injury. Depending on the severity of the fracture, a broken bone may prevent you from putting any weight on the affected hip.
You can sleep in which ever position you find most comfortable but may prefer to place a pillow in between your knees when sleeping on your side. Avoid sitting on low chairs or for prolonged periods of time. Use your hands on the arms of the chair to help gently lower yourself.
Activity Modification. After a hip or pelvic fracture, your doctor may advise you not to put any weight on the affected hip for six weeks or more. This allows the bone to heal.
These pelvic fractures can be life-threatening, require emergency care, surgery, and extensive physical therapy rehabilitation.
Pain relievers can help you feel well enough to begin physical therapy, which is a vital part of recovery from a fractured hip or pelvis. Our doctors often recommend over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen. If pain is more intense, your doctor can prescribe a stronger medication.
Hemorrhage is considered the leading cause of death in patients with pelvic ring injuries [5, 19, 20]. Lustenberger et al.
Due to the location of the pelvis, injuries to other structures, such as major blood vessels, the bladder and/or the bowel may occur. This means that the management and long term recovery from pelvic injuries can be complicated.
In severe pelvic fractures (Abbreviated Injury Scale [AIS] > or =4), the incidence of associated intraabdominal injuries was 30.7%, and the most commonly injured organs were the bladder and urethra (14.6%).
Most pelvic fractures become increasingly stable around 6 weeks after the event and typically heal within 3 months.
Bowel entrapment within a pelvic fracture is rare, but can be fatal. This important diagnosis is difficult to make, even with current imaging methods.
Associated Injuries
Bladder injuries are more common with pubic rami fractures (4%–8%), with bone spicules penetrating the bladder wall.
The signs that a broken bone is healing are often typically an improvement in mobility and a decrease in pain. While the progress may not be consistent, each week should be an improvement from the previous. But the signs that your broken bone is not healing properly may be less clear cut.