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Stem cell application is a burgeoning field of medicine that is likely to influence the future of orthopaedic surgery. Stem cells are associated with great promise and great controversy. For the orthopaedic surgeon, stem cells may change the way that orthopaedic surgery is practiced and the overall approach of the treatment of musculoskeletal disease. Stem cells may change the field of orthopaedics from a field dominated by surgical replacements and reconstructions to a field of regeneration and prevention. This review will introduce the basic concepts of stem cells pertinent to the orthopaedic surgeon and proceed with a more in depth discussion of current developments in the study of stem cells in fracture healing.

The diagnostic and therapeutic modalities utilized in the management of pelvic ring fractures depend on patient characteristics, mechanism of injury, and hemodynamic status at the time of presentation. Knowledge of the complex anatomy and biomechanics of pelvic stability may guide appropriate initial management strategies. Even with the development of specific treatment algorithms and advances in both diagnostic and operative techniques, fractures of the pelvis continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality. The current paper reviews the diagnosis and management of pelvic ring fractures, focusing on current concepts with respect to initial assessment and treatment protocols, including the identification of associated injuries and emergency methods of provisional pelvic stabilization.