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Orthopaedic Proceedings
Vol. 96-B, Issue SUPP_19 | Pages 39 - 39
1 Dec 2014
Maqungo S Kimani M Chhiba D McCollum G Roche S
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Purpose of study:

The presence of an L5 transverse process fracture is reported in many texts to be a marker of pelvis fracture instability. There is paucity of literature to support this view. Available studies have been performed on patients who were already known to have a pelvis fracture. No study has attempted to document the presence of this lesion in the absence of a pelvis fracture.

Primary aim: To identify the correlation between the presence of a L5 transverse process fracture and an unstable pelvic ring injury.

Secondary aim: To establish whether a L5 transverse process fracture can occur in the absence of a pelvis fracture.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective review of all CT scans performed in patients who presented to a Level 1 Trauma Unit for blunt abdomino-pelvic trauma between January 1, 2012 and August 28, 2013. A total of 203 patients met our inclusion criteria.