Pelvic fracture and mode of delivery

Contrary to wide-spread belief, a previous pelvic fracture is not an automatic indication for caesarean section. Any decision on the method of delivery will depend on the extent and type of fracture, and the duration since it occurred, as well as the usual obstetric considerations.

If the pelvic fracture is still unstable, then vaginal delivery is out of the question.

If healing has resulted in no deformity and the fracture occurred at least eight weeks before, then a vaginal delivery is possible.

Trauma in pregnancy: Risk of a hysterectomy

Following severe trauma in pregnancy, it may be impossible to do the necessary life-saving surgical procedure without removing the uterus. In such a situation, the doctor has no choice but to perform a hysterectomy.

In some cases, attempts to control bleeding from an injured uterus repeatedly fail, putting the woman's life in peril, and a hysterectomy may be the only solution.

It has to be stressed that such situations and outcomes are rare.

Severe trauma resulting in maternal death.

The prospects for the unborn baby are dire. Circumstances in most cases dictate that the baby too is lost.

In theory, following cardiac arrest, if the baby is delivered within five minutes, it will be in reasonably good condition. It can still be successfully resuscitated if delivery is within fifteen minutes. Beyond this, survival is very unlikely.

All this depends on two main factors: Whether the fetus itself sustained a direct injury and whether it was at a viable gestational age.

A previous pelvic fracture does not necessarily mean a cesarean section.