Radiology Review

Unresponsive Woman Extricated From Car

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An unidentified female is brought in as a trauma code. She was apparently in a motor vehicle crash, the specific details of which are unclear. Emergency medical personnel describe extensive damage to her vehicle, which resulted in a pro-longed extrication time. Due to unresponsiveness at the scene, she was intubated in the field. The patient is probably in her late 30s to early 40s. She has two large-bore IV lines with normal saline infusing at a wide-open rate. Blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg and heart rate, 140 beats/min. She has several superficial lacerations on her head, her pupils are fixed and dilated, and there is minimal withdrawal to pain in her extremities. No other trauma is im-mediately evident. Portable radiographs of her chest and pelvis are obtained prior to sending her for CT. Pelvis radiograph is shown. What is your impression?


 

ANSWER
The radiograph shows a right acetabular fracture that is mildly displaced. In addition, the right hip and femoral head are dislocated. Orthopedic consultation was made to reduce the hip and evaluate the fracture.

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