Traumatic amputation of the lower limb and traumatic hemipelvectomy. Report of 2 cases in children and review of the literature.

Traumatic hemipelvectomy is rarely observed, mostly because very few patients survive the initial trauma. We describe 2 cases of children who survived this trauma. The first was a 12 year-old boy who accidentally fell between a metro train and the platform. He had a severe open trauma of the pelvis with important hemorrhage. After a first operation to stop hemorrhage and do a cystotomy and a colostomy, ischemia of the lower limb led to an inter-ilio-abdominal amputation. Two months were necessary to heal this. A prosthesis was made 12 months after the accident, postponed by urinary problems. The boy also had a traumatic amputation of the left arm and an upper metaphyseal fracture of the humerus. The second case was that of an 8 year-old girl who suffered a complete traumatic amputation of the hemipelvis after a road accident. A secondary colostomy was performed because of a local infection. Once healing was achieved, the child was low to follow-up. In the literature, we found 36 survivors to this dreadful lesion (4 of them children). We analysed the different problems for the treatment of this trauma caused, and their short term consequences. An early evaluation of the lesions, rapid and intensive resuscitation, early decision to complete the traumatic amputation if necessary, with urinary and digestive derivation, are important elements towards eventual successful outcome of the treatment.