When assessing for pelvic trauma do you use only 1 plane now (medially) and is there any reason to assess the symphysis pubis. It has changed for 3 to 1 but I cannot find the version.

The best practices taught during MCME 2024 was, “Palpating the pelvis is an important part of the trauma assessment but we know that the sensitivity of checking for pelvis stability is poor.  

When palpating as part of your BLS Head-to-Toe assessment: Utilize light palpation as placing force can potentially worsen injury and hemorrhage (due to dislodging an existing blood clot), while only truly finding approximately a quarter of clinically unstable pelvic fractures.  

If performing palpation do not "open the book" instead "close the book" with light force (medially as you describe). It is recommended to only complete this palpation once, for the reasons stated above.  

But also remember to consider all factors (when considering if the patient has per the BLS PCS "A pelvic fracture with a clinically unstable pelvis" that requires stabilization with a pelvic binder or circumferential sheet wrap. Factors may include Mechanism of Injury (MOI), Patient condition and vital signs. 

BLS,Trauma Patient

Best Practices, BLS-PCS, Pelvic Binder, Pelvic Fracture, Stabilization, Trauma

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