Is there a classification of pelvic ring injuries, which takes the trauma mechanism, morphology and stability relations into consideration and thereby gives references for subsequent therapy?

In contrast to earlier classifications, Tile's classification of pelvic ring disruptions considers mechanism of injury, clinical and x-ray evaluations and is therefore almost universally accepted. We propose a more comprehensive classification which gives a guide for treatment of these complex injuries. Moreover it can be used to compare results from different authors. We classify types A-D pelvic injuries according to stability. Type A consists of fractures of the pelvis not involving the ring, type B of stable rotational injuries. Type C and D encompass the unstabile injuries: C is purely rotational and D has a combined rotational and vertical instability. The location of injury is indicated by adding numbers 1-9 (1: rupture of symphysis pubis; 2: transpubic fracture; 3: acetabular fracture; 4: iliac wing fracture; 5: sacroiliac fracture-dislocation; 6: sacroiliac disruption; 7: sacral wing fracture; 8: transforaminal sacral fracture; 9: central sacral fracture). These numbers are arranged in increasing order, one hemipelvis after the other. Thus, in case of a complex pelvic injury with rotational instability on one side and vertical instability on the other each hemipelvis may be classified separately.