Fractured Pelvis

What is a Fractured Pelvis?

The pelvis is a ring-shaped bone structure located at the base of the spine. It connects the upper body to the lower limbs and plays a vital role in supporting body weight, maintaining balance, and allowing movement through the hips.

A fractured pelvis occurs when one or more of the bones within this structure break. While fractures can occur anywhere in the pelvis, they most commonly affect the acetabulum, the socket that connects the pelvis to the thigh bone (femur) to form the hip joint.

Pelvic fractures are usually classified into two main types:

• Stable pelvic fracture – involves a single break where the bones remain in their normal position.
• Unstable pelvic fracture – involves multiple breaks or displacement of the bones, which can affect pelvic stability.

Both types require proper medical care and rehabilitation to ensure full recovery.

How Does a Fractured Pelvis Happen?

Pelvic fractures usually occur due to strong forces or trauma, although weakened bones can also contribute.

Common causes include:

• Car or motorcycle accidents
• Falls from a height
• Contact sports injuries
• High-impact trauma
• Osteoporosis weakening the bones
• Sudden forceful twisting movements

In older adults, pelvic fractures may occur after relatively minor falls because reduced bone density increases fracture risk.

What Are the Symptoms of a Fractured Pelvis?

Symptoms usually appear immediately after the injury and can vary depending on the severity of the fracture.

Common symptoms include:

• Severe pain in the hip, groin, or lower back
• Difficulty standing or walking
• Swelling and bruising around the pelvis or hips
• Pain when moving the legs
• Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the legs
• Pain or pressure in the abdomen
• A feeling of pelvic instability

In severe cases, pelvic fractures may also involve damage to nearby organs or blood vessels, which requires urgent medical care.

What Should I Do If I Have a Fractured Pelvis?

A suspected pelvic fracture requires immediate medical assessment.

If this injury occurs:

• Avoid moving or putting weight on the legs
• Seek emergency medical care immediately
• Keep the patient comfortable and still
• Follow medical advice regarding imaging and treatment

Doctors usually confirm the diagnosis with X-rays. Additional imaging such as CT scans or MRI may be required to assess soft tissue injuries or complex fractures.

Treatment depends on the type of fracture.

• Stable fractures often heal with rest, pain management, and walking aids such as crutches.
• Unstable fractures may require surgical stabilisation, sometimes using an external fixator to hold the bones in position while they heal.

Once medical treatment begins, physiotherapy is essential to support recovery.

Physiotherapy Treatment for a Fractured Pelvis

Physiotherapy plays a key role in restoring mobility and preventing complications after a pelvic fracture.

At ACE Physio Sports in Singapore, physiotherapists design personalised rehabilitation programmes tailored to the patient’s injury, recovery stage, and functional goals.

Physiotherapy treatment may include:

• Strengthening exercises for the hip, core, and pelvic muscles
• Range-of-motion exercises to restore flexibility
• Gait training using walking aids such as crutches or a walking frame
• Balance and coordination exercises to improve stability
• Pain management techniques including manual therapy
• Postural correction and movement training
• Functional training for daily activities

These treatments help patients regain confidence in movement and safely return to normal activities.

What Should I Avoid With a Fractured Pelvis?

If you suspect or have been diagnosed with a pelvic fracture, certain activities should be avoided.

Patients should avoid:

• Walking or standing without medical guidance
• High-impact movements
• Ignoring persistent pain or swelling
• Returning to sports too early
• Continuing normal activities before the fracture has healed

Early medical assessment and physiotherapy reduce the risk of complications.

Can There Be Long-Term Effects?

Most pelvic fractures heal successfully with proper treatment and rehabilitation.

However, recovery time depends on the severity of the fracture:

• Stable fractures usually heal within several weeks.
• Unstable fractures that require surgery may take several months to fully recover.

Possible long-term effects may include:

• Reduced hip mobility
• Muscle weakness
• Persistent pelvic or hip pain
• Balance difficulties

With a structured physiotherapy programme, most patients can regain full function and return to normal daily activities.

Why Choose ACE Physio Sports

At ACE Physio Sports – Singapore, our physiotherapists specialise in orthopaedic rehabilitation, fracture recovery, and sports injury physiotherapy.

Our clinic provides:

• Experienced musculoskeletal physiotherapists
• Personalised rehabilitation programmes
• Evidence-based physiotherapy treatments
• Structured recovery plans for pelvic and hip injuries

Conveniently located near East Coast Road, we regularly treat patients from Marine Parade, Katong, Joo Chiat, Siglap, and Bedok.

Book an Appointment

To arrange an appointment, please call +65 81535374 or visit acephysiosport.com.