Abdominal injuries in patients sustaining pelvic fractures

OBJETIVO: Analisar as lesões abdominais e seu impacto no prognóstico dos traumatizados com fraturas de bacia MÉTODO: Avaliamos retrospectivamente todos os prontuários das vítimas de trauma fechado com fraturas de bacia admitidos de 1996 a 2000. Nossa amostra incluiu 224 doentes, com média etária de 34 + 16 anos, sendo 137 (61,1%) do sexo masculino. Dados demográficos, índices de trauma, órgãos lesados, tratamento e evolução foram estudados. As lesões abdominais foram estratificadas pela Organ Injury Scale (OIS), Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) e Abdominal Trauma Index (ATI). Empregamos os testes Qui quadrado e t de Student, considerando p 3 e 54 (24,1%) OIS > 3 em órgãos abdominais. A média dos ATI foi 9 + 8 nos com lesões abdominais diagnosticadas. Foram realizadas 55 laparotomias (nove não terapêuticas). Cinqüenta e um (22%) doentes morreram, principalmente devido ao choque hemorrágico (25 casos). A presença de lesões abdominais esteve relacionada significativamente com choque à admissão, fraturas complexas de bacia, fixação externa ou interna da fratura de bacia, maior morbidade e letalidade. CONCLUSÃO: As lesões abdominais são freqüentemente associadas às fraturas de bacia, e, quando presentes, relacionam-se a um pior prognóstico. BACKGROUND: To analyze possible abdominal injuries and their impact on the prognosis of patients sustaining pelvic fractures. METHOD: Retrospective chart review including all victims of pelvic fractures due to blunt trauma from 1996 until 2000. Sample was constituted of 224 patients, mean age 34 + 16 years, 137 (61,1%) male. Demographic data, trauma indices, organs injured, treatment and evolution were assessed. Abdominal injuries were graded using Organ Injury Scale (OIS), Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Abdominal Trauma Index (ATI). Statistical analysis was carried out with student's t and chi square tests. RESULTS: Pedestrian struck was the most common mechanism of injury (53%). Mean Revised Trauma Score (RTS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were 7.0341 ± 1.864 and 20.2 ± 12.8 respectively. Injuries in abdominal organs were found in 95 patients (42,4%), being the bladder the most frequently injured (11%). Sixty three (28,1%) patients had their abdominal injuries graded as AIS > 3, and 54 (24,1%), as OIS > 3. Mean ATI for those sustaining abdominal lesions was 9 ± 8. Fifty five laparotomies were performed, nine of them being non therapeutic. Fifty one patients died (22%), mainly due to hemorrhagic shock. The presence of injuries to abdominal organs were significantly associated with shock upon admission, complex pelvic fractures, external fixation of the pelvic fracture, increased number of complications and higher mortality (p