Background: Pelvic fractures constitute about 2% - 8% of all fractures. This incidence may rise up to 25% in poly-traumatised patients. These fractures have a high mortality rate due to the fact that they occur usually as a result of high energy trauma, and most of the injured are poly-traumatised with concomitant haemodynamic instability. The aim of this study is to describe the patterns of injury and complications of unstable pelvic fractures treated in a level III hospital in Cameroon. Methodology: This was a hospital based retrospective analysis of files of patients admitted and treated for unstable pelvic fractures at the Regional Hospital Limbe within a period of 10 years (from 1st of January 2009 to 31st of December 2018). Results: A total of 139 cases of pelvic fractures were identified, amongst which 77 were unstable; 68 were finally analyzed. The ages ranged from 18 to 80 years with a mean of 39 ± 5 years. The age group from 20 - 40 years was most represented (58.88%, n = 40). There were 45 males and 23 females giving a sex-ratio of 2:1. Road traffic injuries accounted for most of the cases (73.53%, n = 50). Forty-five (66.2%) were classified Tile B and 23 (33.82%) were Tile C, and 15 cases were open fractures (22.06%). Associated lesions were recorded in 30 cases, fractures of the lower extremity being the most common (33.33%, n = 10). Most of the cases were definitively treated surgically (80.89%, n = 55). The most common complications were surgical site infections (23.64%, n = 13). Conclusion: Unstable pelvic fractures are relatively common. Young males in the age group 20 - 40 years are the most affected, and the most common cause of injury was road traffic accident. Surgical site infections, pressure ulcers, severe anaemia and thrombo-embolism are common complications.
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