A 46-year-old man was involved in a high-energy collision resulting in a left traumatic hemipelvectomy with contralateral pelvic fractures and regional soft-tissue injuries. He had a pulseless left lower extremity and multiple life-threatening injuries. Emergent hemipelvectomy was performed, with intraoperative findings confirming external iliac artery transection. Remaining orthopaedic injuries were repaired sequentially, including percutaneous fixation of contralateral acetabular fracture. Traumatic hemipelvectomy requires rapid intervention. Early amputation is necessary for adequate resuscitation. Percutaneous fixation of fractures in the remaining hemipelvis can optimize soft-tissue preservation with favorable functional outcomes.
Rutz et al. (Tue,) studied this question.