To assess the effectiveness and appropriate time for arterial embolization with angiography in patients who sustained a hemodynamically unstable pelvic bone fracture

Nineteen cases with hemodynamically unstable pelvic bone fractures that were managed with arterial embolization out of 287 pelvic bone fractures between May, 2002 and February, 2007 were reviewed retrospectively. The blood pressure, pulse rate, hemoglobin, prothrombin time, partial prothrombin time and platelet checked were evaluated immediately after arrival at the emergency room, before and after embolization. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used for the statistical evaluation.

The blood pressure showed a statistically significant increase from before and after embolization. The hemoglobin and prothrombin time checked upon arrival were significantly lower than those checked before embolization. In addition, the hemoglobin and prothrombin time was significantly higher before embolization than after embolization. The partial thromboplastin time and platelet checked immediately upon arrival were significantly lower than those checked before embolization.

Interventional angiography and embolization can be an effective treatment modality in patients with hemodynamically unstable pelvic bone fractures showing rapid changes in the hemoglobin level, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time and platelet count but little response to fluid and transfusion resuscitation,.