Pelvic ring fractures: should they be fixed?

The management of traumatic disruption of the pelvic ring has become a focus of interest, the main question being whether such disruptions should be stabilised at operation. Stabilisation may be important for the survival of the patient, as has been suggested for femoral fractures, and it may also be desirable to improve the long-term functional results of such injuries. It is therefore necessary to study both survival and the natural history of the various types of pelvic trauma.