🦴 Pelvic Fracture Classification (Young-Burgess)
This tool classifies pelvic fractures by the Young-Burgess system (APC/LC/VS/CM), which links injury mechanism to pelvic-ring stability and bleeding risk.
Management is hemodynamics-first: unstable patterns with instability proceed through binder → massive transfusion → embolization/packing → fixation, with REBOA when needed. (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim)
Paste the link in Slack, Teams, X, or LinkedIn — the preview image comes from this page’s Open Graph card.
When to use
Use in pelvic trauma to recognize the fracture pattern and anticipate hemorrhage — distinguishing mechanically stable patterns (LC-I, APC-I) from unstable ones that may need aggressive hemorrhage control.
How it works
Mechanism-based pattern → stability + bleeding risk. APC-III, VS, and CM are completely unstable with the highest bleeding/transfusion need and mortality; LC-I and APC-I are mechanically stable.
Key points
- Management is hemodynamics-first: unstable patterns with instability proceed through binder → massive transfusion → embolization/packing → fixation, with REBOA when needed. (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim)
- Open-book (APC) injuries widen pelvic volume and predict venous/arterial bleeding; lateral-compression (LC) injuries are often associated with other injuries.
- The Young-Burgess pattern complements the WSES pelvic trauma grading, which emphasizes vascular-injury severity.
References
- Burgess AR, et al. Pelvic ring disruptions: effective classification system and treatment protocols. J Trauma 1990.
- Coccolini F, et al. Pelvic trauma: WSES classification and guidelines. World J Emerg Surg 2017.
Worked calculation
The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.
| Young-Burgess type | APC-I: pubic symphysis diastasis < 2.5 cm, ligaments intact |
|---|
→Young-BurgessAPC-I
- Type：APC-I (mechanically stable (single break point))
- Bleeding risk：low bleeding risk. APC-III, VS, and CM have the highest bleeding/transfusion need and mortality; beware pelvic vascular injury and retroperitoneal hematoma
- Management direction：Stable type: symptomatic analgesia, imaging evaluation, monitoring; usually managed conservatively
| Young-Burgess type | CM: combined mechanism |
|---|
→Young-BurgessCM
- Type：CM (completely unstable (massive injury))
- Bleeding risk：high bleeding risk. APC-III, VS, and CM have the highest bleeding/transfusion need and mortality; beware pelvic vascular injury and retroperitoneal hematoma
- Management direction：Unstable + hemodynamically unstable: pelvic binder/external fixation + massive transfusion protocol + angioembolization or extraperitoneal packing, REBOA if needed; early definitive fixation
Frequently asked questions
- What is Pelvic Fracture Classification (Young-Burgess)?
- This tool classifies pelvic fractures by the Young-Burgess system (APC/LC/VS/CM), which links injury mechanism to pelvic-ring stability and bleeding risk.
- How is Pelvic Fracture Classification (Young-Burgess) calculated? What is the core formula?
- Mechanism-based pattern → stability + bleeding risk. APC-III, VS, and CM are completely unstable with the highest bleeding/transfusion need and mortality; LC-I and APC-I are mechanically stable.
- When is Pelvic Fracture Classification (Young-Burgess) used?
- Use in pelvic trauma to recognize the fracture pattern and anticipate hemorrhage — distinguishing mechanically stable patterns (LC-I, APC-I) from unstable ones that may need aggressive hemorrhage control.
- What are the key clinical points for Pelvic Fracture Classification (Young-Burgess)?
- Management is hemodynamics-first: unstable patterns with instability proceed through binder → massive transfusion → embolization/packing → fixation, with REBOA when needed. (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim) Open-book (APC) injuries widen pelvic volume and predict venous/arterial bleeding; lateral-compression (LC) injuries are often associated with other injuries. The Young-Burgess pattern complements the WSES pelvic trauma grading, which emphasizes vascular-injury severity.
- What are the limits and cautions when using Pelvic Fracture Classification (Young-Burgess)?
- For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
- How is Pelvic Fracture Classification (Young-Burgess) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
- Inputs: Young-Burgess type APC-I: pubic symphysis diastasis < 2.5 cm, ligaments intact → Result: Young-Burgess APC-I（Type: APC-I (mechanically stable (single break point)), Bleeding risk: low bleeding risk. APC-III, VS, and CM have the highest bleeding/transfusion need and mortality; beware pelvic vascular injury and retroperitoneal hematoma, Management direction: Stable type: symptomatic analgesia, imaging evaluation, monitoring; usually managed conservatively） Inputs: Young-Burgess type CM: combined mechanism → Result: Young-Burgess CM（Type: CM (completely unstable (massive injury)), Bleeding risk: high bleeding risk. APC-III, VS, and CM have the highest bleeding/transfusion need and mortality; beware pelvic vascular injury and retroperitoneal hematoma, Management direction: Unstable + hemodynamically unstable: pelvic binder/external fixation + massive transfusion protocol + angioembolization or extraperitoneal packing, REBOA if needed; early definitive fixation）