Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) Practice Test

A broken pelvis is commonly attributed to high-energy impacts, which include scenarios like motor vehicle crashes or falls from significant heights. These incidents generate sufficient force to disrupt the structural integrity of the pelvic bones. The pelvis is designed to absorb and distribute energy, but when subjected to the intense force of a high-energy impact, it can sustain fractures.

Low-energy falls, such as those from standing height, typically do not impart enough force to cause a significant pelvic fracture in individuals without underlying bone density issues. While it is possible for repetitive motions or injuries related to sports to contribute to pelvic issues, they generally do not result in acute fractures of the pelvis compared to the catastrophic effects seen in high-energy situations. The mechanisms that lead to pelvic fractures are directly related to the level of force exerted, making high-energy impacts the primary cause for such traumatic injuries.