Objective    To describe the technique and explore the outcomes of emergency use of anterior and posterior pelvic ring external fixator in polytraumatised patients with unstable type C pelvic fracture.     Methods    From Nov 2005 to Aug 2007

16 polytraumatised patients with unstable type C pelvic fracture were subjected to this study

including 10 males and 6 females with the average age of 36.5 years. Their mean injury severity score (ISS) was 29 (range from 19 to 58). According to Marvin Tile’s classification

there were 11 cases wit

h type C

1

3 cases with type C

2

and 2 cases with type C

3

. All cases were shock and stabilized with anterior supra-acetabular external fixator and the C-clamp. Following data were observed

the operative time of placing external fixator

quality of reduction

incidence of complications and clinical results according to the criteria of Majeed.     Results    The operative time of external fixator placed was 45 to 90 min with average 63.5 min. Four patients died after operation

one due to head injury and the other 3 of multiple organ failure. The average follow-up time was 9.1 months for the rest 12 cases. Complications consisted of 4 minor pin tract infections

one temporary lateral femoral cutaneous nerve palsy. There was no delayed unions or nonunions

and none of the fractures displaced significantly after initial reduction. According to Majeed’s criteria

the treatment outcome was evaluated as excellent in 6 cases

good in 4

and poor in 2

with the excellent and good rate of 83.3%.     Conclusion    Emergency application of anterior and posterior external fixator can restore stabilization of pelvic ring of type C injuries

reduce blood loss and maintain stability of haemodynamic situation. Based on our experience

we believe this method to be a valuable tool in the emergent treatment of type C injuries accompanying unstable haemodynamic situation in multiply injured patients.