In this educational poster we will demonstrate the appearances of pelvic fractures on Trauma CTs by mechanism of fracturein the Young and Burgess classification system. This will allow the reader to identify acute fractures of the pelvic ring and characterise them by mechanism in order to identify more subtle associated or higher grade injury. The reader will then be able to assesstrauma scans more effectively for pelvic fracture and comment on fracture stability.

A large scale study covering 21 years of trauma in the UK has demonstrated that pelvic fractures are a common sequela of trauma, affecting 8% of trauma patients [Giannoudis et al, 2007]. There is also an increased risk of mortality in patients with pelvic trauma (14.2%) versus those without (5.6%) at 3 months after injury. Some studies have also demonstrated an increased mortality rate with certain fracture features such as fractures of the obturator ring and pubic symphsis diastasis [Blackmore et al, 2006]. It is...

Young and Burgess Classification The Young and Burgess classification of pelvic fractures is divided into 3 distinct mechanisms of injury: anteroposterior compression, lateral compression and vertical shear, with a further 4th classificationof combined mechanism. Anteroposterior and lateral compression injuries are divided into 3 grades of severity. The lower grades reflect injury to only the anterior pelvic ring with the higher grades reflecting injury to the posterior pelvis with consequent loss of stability [Burgess et al, 1990]. Injuries to the anterior part of the pelvic ring...

After reading this poster the radiologist will be familiar with classification of pelvic fractures by mechanism. This will allowyou to assess trauma and pelvic CT for subtle signs of instability, in order to grade pelvic injury and help guide acute management and future fixation.

1. Giannoudis PV, Grotz MRW, Tzioupis C, Dinopoulos H, Prevalence of Pelvic Fractures, Associated Injuries and Mortality: The United Kingdom Perspective.J Trauma 2007, 63: 875-883 2. Blackmore CC, Cummings P, Jurkovich GJ, Linnau KF,Predicting Major Haemorrhage in Patients with Pelvic Fracture.J Trauma 2006; 61: 346-352 3.Guthrie HC, Owens R, Bircher MD,Focus on Pelvic Fractures.J Bone Joint Surg,2010,http://www.boneandjoint.org.uk/sites/default/files/FocusOn_jun10.pdf Accessed 14/04/2017 4. Burgess AR, Eastridge BJ, Young JW, et al. Pelvic ring disruptions: effective classification system and treatment protocols.J Trauma 1990;30:848-56 5. Schatzker J, Tile M, Axelrod...

Radiology Department, University Hospital Southampton, UK