uni project... fractured pelvis

[oatcake]

I was not in uni on monday when questions were given out to research, so I ended up with the questions no-one else wanted.

I need to know

1. what a fractured pelvis is (done)
2. causes of a fractured pelvis
3. signs and symptoms of a fractured pelvis
4. medication/treatment for a fractured pelvis.
5. which other professionals will the sufferer see

I've found answers my other conditions because they're so general and well documented (MS, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus) but I'm finding the condition of a fractured pelvis a bit too specific.

Any ideas on where to get this information? (Specifically in relation to pregnant women)

have you tried nursingtimes.net?

i think its free to register and you can search archived articles

hth

what a sh*t topic! (IMO)

i hate ortho

Hi ostcake. I only know that a frequent cause of a fractured pelvis is a RTA. It is usually a lengthy recovery, catheter is usually in situ, I have known stomas having to be formed as the bowel has been ruptured. so some health pros involoved would be the obvious,
OT
Physio
Nurse
Doctor
?stoma Nurse
?urologist if complications from catheter.
Obstriatrition.

This is all from a general nurse perspective though so don't know how helpful. Have you tried looking up under orthopeadics?

signs and symptoms for you

yes, icu nurses because of usual multiple injury including head which mean securing the airway and intubation.
Falls from great heights is another cause that i have seen.
Ruptured bladder, circulatory problems of the distal limbs, bowel problems, muscle wastage due to traction for prolonged periods and a biggy "pain".
Also infection depending on the type of traction. Obviously skin traction this isnt a problem but internal fixators carry the risk of infection.
pressure area breakdown and of course DVT with inactivity and enforced bed rest.
Oh my God, where will you start with all of this??????

this looks more pregnancy related and then I've found one more in a second...

oops it was in italian and only a reference so no help but I hope the other two are useful. DS is awake...

aw, cheers NP, I forgot about contacting you! evertime I go through athens, the nursing times articles have already reached their capacity so will try accessing direct.

Thank you so much flossam. Most useful.

Because it's only a trigger (the NEW IMPROVED way of learning - HATE IT!) rather than an essay, I'm not going to bust a gut over it.

Incidentally, the other girls, bar one, only got 1 condition each to look into! So far I've got 4 pages worth of info to give to them!

I have to get an essay done by 24 March on a pre-existing condition which can influence childbirth, so if either of you can suggest something where there is loads of easily accessible info, I'd appreciate it! (ideas: TB, anaemia, asthma, HIV etc...)

For this essay, I have a grand total of 4 days (excluding weekends cos those are and should be for my boy) because I am on placement for 4 weeks until then...

I am soooo close to giving this up now, you would not believe...

A bit dispondent. Sorry! And very angry with the uni for not making timetabling a bit more conducive to family life.

AND, another rant, we've been told we need to do caseloading which was not part of the course when we accepted a place 18 months ago.

Does anyone know the legalities of undertaking something which was not part of the original course you signed up for?

Preumable you are on a midwifery course?

I mean presumably!

yes donbean. forgot to specify cos NP knows...

I ask because it is my long term ambition to undertake a midwifery course. You dont sound like you are too thrilled with it so far.
Do you have any encouraging words for me?

oh, donbean, so sorry! It's something that I really really want to do. It's absolutely the most priviledged job in the world to see another human being born, and supporting and encouraging the women you're with.

Just do your homework and choose your uni wisely. Some are MUCH better than others.

did anyone see yesterdays metro? had the most amazing article in it about a baby who had 8 blood transfusions while in her mothers womb. its was unbelievable! the baby is now 7 wks and fine. the mother had lost 2 babies before.

the mother has an immune disorder, didnt specify, wish it had

What about epilepsy as apre existing condition. Thuis monthe Drug and Therapeutics bulletin had a big article about pg and epilepsy drugs so would be a great source and should be easily available at uni/hosp libraries.

So the publication is 'Drug and therapeutics bulletin'?

I'll check it out on monday. thanks. there should be plenty of stuff around for epilepsy so that's a definite maybe on my list.

I'm sure the transfusion thing was incredible np! wish I'd read it. do metro have their stories online?

i think it would be really interesting topic. i know metro is online.

metro.co.uk

if you are interested i would even post you the article, although its not very long or informative.

i think a good subject would be one that is affected by medication.

i have worked a lot in renal wards and we get pg women who come in for dialysis. they have lots of problems.

i have to go now but i hope you find lots of info and good luck with the essay

Causes: usually fall from height/ RTA. Simple falls can cause # pelvis in older people

Signs/ Symptoms: Pain, inability to weight bear. In displaced fractures SHOCK (i.e. massive blood loss) can be fatal.

Treatment: depends on the type of fracture- undisplaced: could just be bedrest or mobilise with crutches till healed

Other professionals- physio, OT, orthopaedic surgeon, maybe general surgeon/ urologist depending on other injuries,anaesthetist/ pain specialist, social worker, radiologist/ radiographer, ambulance technician/paramedic....

Medication: Initially, analgesia, anticoagulants (big risk of pelvic DVT), antibiotics, especially if external fixator pins/ traction pins get infected.

displaced: usually need some kind of stabilisation, could be : skeletal traction (i.e. pin through the distal femur and heavy weights to pull the pelvis down; external fixator (ie pins into iliac crest and a bar across the front to hold 2 sides of the pelvis together); internal fixation (holding fragments of bone together with screws/ plates). Some bad fractures may need combinations of the above, such as internal and external fixation, or external fixation and traction.

www.dtb.org.uk

Not sure how much use the website will be because you need to subscribe. probably available as fulltext through Athens or your hospital intranet. Or, if you Cat me your address I'll stick my copy in the post for you tomorrow.

I know how crappy it is having to make time to get to the library for articles. good luck

sorry, paragraph somehow got split!

thanks all, I've incorporated your comments into my trigger and have attributed them to mumsnet.com in some instances!

Well... what a terrible question for me!

NBL, will try athens and cat you if no success.