Pelvic C-clamp in a pediatric patient.

Abstract

The pelvic C-clamp was designed to provide posterior stability temporarily to pelvic ring injuries associated with massive venous hemorrhage in adult patients. Pediatric pelvic ring injuries are uncommon, but when unstable injuries occur they may be coupled with visceral injuries and lethal hemorrhage. 1, 2 Anterior external frame fixators have been described in the treatment of these injuries in pediatric patients with few adverse outcomes and good long-term results. Although they provide adequate fixation, anterior frame application is complicated, time-consuming, and cumbersome as an emergency application. The pelvic C-clamp eliminated these problems, while providing fixation points that do not violate areas of cartilage or physeal growth. We present a case demonstrating that the pelvic C-clamp is a safe form of temporary fixation in a skeletally immature patient with a posterior pelvic ring injury associated with massive hemorrhage.