Open Book on the Water Slide: A Case Series of APC2 Pelvic Ring Injuries from High-Energy Aquatic Accidents

TL;DR

Waterslides can cause severe pelvic injuries similar to car accidents, especially in overweight individuals, requiring careful diagnosis and treatment.

Contribution

Identifies waterslides as a distinct cause of APC2 pelvic injuries and highlights challenges in their diagnosis and treatment.

Findings

All four patients had APC2 pelvic injuries from waterslides and were overweight or obese.

Pelvic binders helped reduce diastasis but could mask posterior instability in some cases.

Surgical fixation was necessary, with early mechanical failure in some patients using short anterior plates.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Pelvic ring injuries with symphyseal disruption are classically associated with high-energy mechanisms such as motor vehicle collisions. Recently, waterslides have emerged as an underrecognized but distinct source of severe pelvic trauma. Waterslide-related pelvic trauma represents a distinct biomechanical entity characterized by a supine or semi-supine body position at splashdown, extreme forced hip abduction, asymmetric lower-limb positioning, and abrupt hydrodynamic deceleration. The high descent velocity, abrupt hydrodynamic deceleration, and forced hip abduction at water entry may combine to generate open-book-type pelvic injuries. Evidence guiding diagnosis and surgical management in this setting remains scarce. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a consecutive series of adult patients sustaining waterslide-related anterior–posterior compression type II (APC2) pelvic ring injuries. Demographic data and the body mass index (BMI), fracture classification, surgical strategy, complications, and functional outcomes were reviewed. Only patients with complete imaging, operative records, and follow-up were included. Results: Four patients (38–72 years) met the inclusion criteria. All sustained rotationally unstable open-book pelvic injuries and were classified as APC2; three were AO/OTA 61B2.3 and one 61B3.3. All patients were overweight or obese (BMI 27.2–31.2). Pelvic binders provided an effective acute reduction in symphyseal diastasis; however, in one bilateral injury, CT imaging obtained with the binder in situ masked posterior ligamentous instability. Definitive surgical fixation was performed in all cases. Early mechanical failure occurred in two patients treated with short anterior symphyseal plate constructs. In the bilateral injury, isolated anterior fixation failed repeatedly until posterior sacroiliac stabilization was added. No deep infections or thromboembolic events occurred. Although two patients required short observational ICU stays, none were admitted for hemodynamic instability or pelvic bleeding. Conclusions: At 12-month follow-up, three patients achieved pain-free ambulation without assistive devices, while one patient required intermittent use of a single crutch; all patients regained independence in daily activities. Waterslide accidents represent a high-energy injury mechanism capable of producing severe APC2 pelvic disruptions, particularly in patients with an elevated BMI. Awareness of this mechanism and meticulous assessment of posterior stability are essential to avoid under-treatment and mechanical failure.

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