What was the result of applying gentle pressure over the iliac crests downward and medially?

• A. There is instability noted.
• B. No assessment performed.
• C. There is no instability noted.
• D. Instability cannot be determined.

Answer: (C)

You’re assessing pelvic stability with a pelvic compression test. By applying gentle downward and medially directed pressure on both iliac crests, you look for any movement of the pelvic ring, tenderness, or crepitus. If the pelvis remains stable and the patient tolerates the maneuver without pain or movement, the finding is that there is no instability noted. That outcome means the pelvic ring is intact under this test.

If instability were present, you would expect a palpable shift, increased pain, or crepitus indicating a disrupted pelvic ring, which would be documented as instability. The other options imply that the test wasn’t done or that instability’s presence couldn’t be determined, which doesn’t fit the demonstrated assessment and its result.