Operative Stabilization of Pelvic Ring Injuries and Risk of Urinary Complications: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Objectives: Pelvic ring injuries, typically from high-energy trauma like road accidents or falls, often damage nearby urogenital structures. Standard treatment involves operative stabilisation, including external fixation, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), or combined surgical approaches for effective management. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence, types, and risk factors of urinary complications in patients undergoing operative stabilisation of pelvic ring injuries and to compare outcomes according to fracture severity and surgical method.

Methods: This comparative observational study included 30 adult patients with radiologically confirmed pelvic ring injuries who underwent operative stabilisation at Dhaka National Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January 2014 to July 2024. Patients aged ≥18 years requiring surgical fixation for acute pelvic ring disruptions, classified according to the Tile/AO system, were included. Data were entered and analysed using SPSS version 26.0

Result: Among 30 patients with operatively stabilised pelvic ring injuries, most were males (73.3%) with high-energy trauma, and Type C fractures predominated (56.7%). ORIF was the most common surgical method (53.3%), followed by combined fixation and external fixation in both (23.3%). Urinary complications occurred in 18.9% of patients, mainly urinary retention (13.2%) and hematuria (10.0%), with higher rates in Type C fractures and more extensive surgical approaches.

Conclusion: This study showed that urinary complications remain a significant concern after operative stabilisation of pelvic ring injuries. Among 30 patients, postoperative issues such as hematuria, urinary retention, and catheter-related infections were more common in unstable fractures and in those requiring combined anterior–posterior fixation.

J Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2026; 32 (01): 29-33