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Clinical examination of pelvic stability is unreliable. It is also potentially a lethal manoeuver as it may increase intra-pelvic vascular injury and dislodge any clot that has already formed. In severe pelvic injuries there may be only one chance to form such a clot 'the primary clot' as coagulopathy takes hold following massive transfusion and hypothermia.

In the prehospital phase, a suspected pelvic injury should be stabilised in a pelvic splint or triangular bandage. Little information is gained by multiple manual compression attempts both at the roadside and in hospital.