The circumferential antishock sheet

Hemorrhage control in patients with pelvic ring disruptions remains problematic. To decrease bleeding, efforts have been made to acutely reduce and stabilize the pelvis. The goals of rapid pelvic reduction and stabilization are restoration of normal pelvic volume, protection of the early clot, and improved patient comfort. The use of military antishock trousers, hip spica casts, external fixators, antishock pelvic clamps, early open reduction/internal fixation, and open packing have been reported in the literature. A simple temporary technique of reduction is reported using a circumferential bed sheet. The sheet is placed between the iliac crests and the greater trochanters, encircling the pelvis. The circumferential sheet provides stabilization for transportation and allows transfemoral angiographic embolization or exploratory laparotomy at the receiving hospital. Definitive fixation can then be accomplished.