Haemorrhage from pelvic fractures: dangers and treatment

A simple, non-invasive method of control of haemorrhage from severe fractures of the pelvis is described. This method is the application of a pneumatic splint from the costal margin to the toes; the splint is then inflated to a pressure of 30 cm of water. The splint was originally designed for the control of leaking aortic aneurysms. We have applied it to 4 patients with severe fractures of the pelvis. There was dramatic improvement in 2 of these patients in whom the bleeding had continued in spite of energetic initial resuscitation.