Fractures of the pelvis: problems and results of surgical treatment.

Pelvic fractures have been the domain of conservative treatment and reduction by closed methods for a long time. In the last decades advances in classification and understanding of these often very complex fractures have been made. They are now discriminated into fractures of the apophysis, acetablar fractures and fractures of the pelvic ring. By a better understanding of the functional biomechanics and the morphological changes a number of clear and valid indications for operative procedures has been worked out. Certain pelvic ring disruptions and acetabular fractures can be stabilized after open reduction and provide better functional long time results. As the surgical approach and operative technique can be rather difficult and the concept has to be fitted to the individual case it is almost impossible to give general guidelines for the surgical management.