Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

Background: CT scan is one of the routine modalities in diagnosis of the pelvic fractures. An unanswered question is if CT scan can alter treatment plane of these fractures?

Methods: At first, radiographs of 100 patients with fracture of the pelvic ring were evaluated by one surgeon and type of the fracture according to Young and Burgess classification and treatment plane (surgical or non-surgical) were identified. Then 3 months later the same radiographs with CT scans were evaluated by the same surgeon and type and plane of treatment were determined again and Results were analyzed with SPSS 22.

Results: Fractures of the pubic rami were the most common injury in radiography and CT scan. The least common injury in radiography was fracture of the ilium but in radiography and CT scan was diastasis of symphysis pubis. CT scan was more accurate than radiography in diagnosis of the sacral fractures and crescent fractures of the ilium (p=0.000) but there was no significant difference in classification of fractures. Non-surgical treatment was suggested for 63 patients and surgical for 37 patients according to radiography and with adding of the CT scan, non-surgical treatment was suggesting for 69 and surgical for 31 patients and this difference was not significant again.

Conclusion: Although CT scan gives more accuracy in diagnosis of the fracture lines, it cannot alter plane of the treatment.