What should be checked before relying on a WPI figure?
Check maximum medical improvement, the body area, objective findings, the NSW Guideline chapter and any NSW modification before relying on a percentage.
Can this page calculate your percentage?
No. WPI depends on an assessor, maximum medical improvement, objective findings and the NSW Guidelines. This page is general information only.
Permanent impairment assessment
How permanent impairment is assessed for Pelvic fracture, sacrum, pubic symphysis and pelvic ring injury
Pelvic fracture WPI depends on the precise pelvic structure, healing, residual displacement, internal fixation or ankylosis. NSW Table 4.3 includes exact rows for pelvic bones, pubic symphysis, sacroiliac injury, coccyx and multiple pelvic injuries. Do not use a generic fracture percentage.
What injuries can happen to this body part?
- Non-displaced or displaced fractures of pelvic bones, including the sacrum
- Pubic symphysis disruption, internal fixation or ankylosis
- Sacroiliac dislocation, fracture-dislocation, internal fixation or ankylosis
- Multiple pelvic ring injuries that may need combined assessment subject to the table maximum
Symptoms and findings that matter
- Which pelvic bone or joint is affected: pelvic bones including sacrum, pubic symphysis, sacroiliac joint, acetabulum or coccyx
- Residual displacement in centimetres after healing
- Whether there has been internal fixation or ankylosis
- Whether hip motion, nerve, bladder, bowel or sexual-function issues require a separate body-system analysis
- Whether multiple pelvic injury rows need to be combined, subject to the NSW maximum
What investigations are usually relevant?
- Treating specialist report and final impairment assessment at maximum medical improvement
- Imaging, pathology, audiology, ophthalmology, respiratory, nerve or functional testing that fits the body system
- Operative reports, discharge summaries, rehabilitation records and objective clinical measurements where relevant
How WPI is assessed for this body part
- Pelvic fracture WPI depends on the precise pelvic structure, healing, residual displacement, internal fixation or ankylosis. NSW Table 4.3 includes exact rows for pelvic bones, pubic symphysis, sacroiliac injury, coccyx and multiple pelvic injuries. Do not use a generic fracture percentage.
- Assessment source: NSW Guidelines Chapter 4, Table 4.3 permanent impairment for fractures involving the pelvis.
- The assessor should explain maximum medical improvement, the body-system chapter, the method selected, any NSW modification, and why the objective findings fit that method.
How movement affects the assessment
- Pelvic fracture WPI usually turns on displacement, fixation or ankylosis under Table 4.3, not a generic ROM percentage.
- Walking tolerance, sitting tolerance, stairs, transfers and lifting capacity can still matter for weekly payments, work capacity and treatment disputes.
NSW Table 4.3 pelvic fracture rows
Non-displaced healed pelvic fracture0% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Pelvic bones, including sacrum, residual displacement less than 1 cm2% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Pelvic bones, including sacrum, residual displacement 1 to 2 cm5% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Pelvic bones, including sacrum, residual displacement more than 2 cm8% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Pubic symphysis residual displacement less than 1 cm5% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Pubic symphysis residual displacement 1 to 2 cm8% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Pubic symphysis residual displacement more than 2 cm12% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Pubic symphysis internal fixation or ankylosis5% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Sacroiliac dislocation or fracture-dislocation, lower residual displacement row8% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Sacroiliac dislocation or fracture-dislocation, residual displacement more than 1 cm12% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Sacroiliac internal fixation or ankylosis5% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Two out of three pelvic joints internally fixed or ankylosed8% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
All three pelvic joints internally fixed or ankylosed10% WPI where the NSW table criteria fit.
Multiple pelvic injuriesCombine values, with the maximum value for pelvic fractures limited to 20% WPI.
NSW Table 4.3 coccyx rows
Fractures of the coccyx: i. healed, and truly displaced fracture1% WPI. Pain alone is not the same as a truly displaced healed fracture.
Fractures of the coccyx: ii. excision of the coccyx5% WPI. Coccygectomy/excision is a separate higher category and should not be confused with ongoing tailbone pain.
Practical WPI examples
- A non-displaced healed pelvic fracture is listed as 0% WPI under NSW Table 4.3.
- Residual displacement of pelvic bones including the sacrum is listed at 2%, 5% or 8% WPI depending on whether the displacement is less than 1 cm, 1 to 2 cm, or more than 2 cm.
- Multiple pelvic injuries are combined, but the NSW table caps pelvic fracture impairment at 20% WPI.
Evidence checklist
- A clear diagnosis and the body area being assessed
- Records showing the condition has reached maximum medical improvement, if that is the issue
- Specialist reports, imaging reports and treating notes relied on by the assessor
- Objective findings on examination, not only symptoms described by the injured person
- A work and treatment chronology explaining the injury, treatment, surgery and recovery path
- Any previous injury, degeneration, congenital issue or non-work cause that needs apportionment considered
- Initial and healed CT/X-ray reports, orthopaedic fracture clinic notes, operative/fixation records, final alignment evidence and work-duty evidence about standing, walking and lifting
What usually does not increase WPI
- Assuming a scan result automatically gives a WPI percentage
- Confusing pain, disability or inability to work with permanent impairment
- Ignoring maximum medical improvement before arranging an assessment
- Using an AMA5 table without checking whether the NSW Guidelines modify or replace it
- Double counting the same impairment through two methods when the Guidelines require one method
- Rating every pelvic fracture as serious WPI without checking displacement
- Ignoring the separate pubic symphysis and sacroiliac rows
- Forgetting the NSW maximum for multiple pelvic injuries
Assessment source
Assessment source: Assessment source: NSW Guidelines Chapter 4, Table 4.3 permanent impairment for fractures involving the pelvis.
This section is source-backed general information. It is not a WPI assessment and is not legal advice.
- SIRA NSW Workers Compensation Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment: Source for the NSW assessment framework, MMI, AMA5 adoption, NSW modifications and exclusions.
- SIRA spine chapter and NSW Table 4.3 pelvic fracture rows: Source for NSW pelvic, sacroiliac and coccyx fracture rows used in spine/pelvis permanent impairment assessment.
Related injury and claim pages
- Common injury evidence hub
- Work injury claims NSW
- Claim process
- Compensation and entitlements
- Ask about an impairment issue
- NSW Injury Claim Evidence, Documents and Templates - This library helps injured people organise incident, medical, income, correspondence and daily-impact records into a clear working file, without presenting any checklist or template as an official form.
- NSW Injury Claims by Location - NSW Injury Claims accepts enquiries from across NSW. The claim pathway depends on how the injury happened, while phone, online and electronic document handling can make an initial enquiry possible without creating a false impression of premises in every region.
- Sacroiliac Joint WPI Assessment NSW - Spine and pelvis permanent impairment assessment guide with NSW Guideline source notes.
Need a practical claim check?
If an impairment percentage, medical assessment or insurer decision is affecting your NSW injury claim, send the decision or report for a practical review. This is general information only and does not guarantee any result.
Request a free claim checkAssessment scope for Pelvic Fracture WPI Assessment
The assessment scope for Pelvic Fracture WPI Assessment should be stated precisely before any percentage is considered. The file should identify whether that label describes the primary diagnosed condition, a symptom of another injury, a regional overview or one component of a broader impairment. Findings from another body area or diagnosis should not be transferred without explanation. The report should connect the stated condition to the correct NSW Guideline chapter, objective findings, treatment history and any permitted combination or apportionment method. This distinction is particularly important where similar page labels cover different clinical questions.
- Confirm the diagnosis and body area being assessed as Pelvic Fracture
- Separate condition-specific findings from overlapping symptoms or injuries in another body area
- Check that the selected NSW Guideline chapter and method match the condition actually assessed
- Explain any combination, apportionment or exclusion rather than relying on the page label alone
Start with maximum medical improvement
Permanent impairment should generally be assessed when the condition is stable and unlikely to change substantially in the next year. Treatment, surgery and rehabilitation history may affect whether the timing is appropriate.
Use the NSW Guidelines first
The NSW Guidelines adopt AMA5 in many areas, but NSW modifications prevail. Do not assume an AMA5 table applies without checking the NSW chapter and any public SIRA clarification.
Keep the assessment practical
A useful assessment file separates diagnosis, objective findings, surgery history, work capacity issues, apportionment questions and the body-area method used by the assessor.
Ask about an impairment issueDocuments and records
Injury evidence to organise early
The useful records depend on how the injury happened, when symptoms were recorded and how treatment or work capacity changed.
- Date, location and short description of the injury event
- Medical certificates, reports, scans, treatment records or hospital documents
- Employer, insurer, police, incident or venue records where relevant
- Photos, witness details, dashcam or other supporting material if available
- Income, superannuation, work capacity or leave records where relevant
- Letters, emails, claim numbers and decisions already received
Common questions
Injury evidence questions
Short general answers only. The right next step depends on the facts, dates and documents.
Is WPI the same as being unable to work?
No. WPI is a medical impairment measure. Work capacity, weekly payments, damages, treatment disputes and TPD issues are separate questions, although the evidence may overlap.
Does pain alone create a WPI percentage?
Not by itself. NSW workers compensation excludes AMA5 Chapter 18 on pain. Chronic pain is assessed through the underlying diagnosed condition where the Guidelines permit it.
Can secondary psychological symptoms be added to physical WPI?
In NSW workers compensation, secondary psychiatric or psychological impairment is not assessed as permanent impairment. Primary psychological impairment is assessed separately and is not combined with physical WPI.
Injury pathway enquiry
Not sure which claim type matches the injury?
Start with how the injury happened, what medical records exist and how work or daily activity has changed. The same injury can sit in different pathways.