Traumatic hemipelvectomy: report of two survivors and review.

Two surviving patients with traumatic hemipelvectomy are presented. Rapid transport, aggressive initial resuscitation, and attention to detail in the rehabilitation phase are necessary for the successful management of these patients. The viability of the psoas muscle should be assessed, because of the high possibility of avulsion. Associated nerve injury and complicating meningitis can be serious problems in the management of such patients. There is need to include this entity in the existing classifications of pelvic fractures. Hemipelvectomy is proposed as an alternative in the management of the severe unilateral open pelvic fracture with uncontrollable bleeding.