Evaluation of the results of internal fixation of displaced acetabular fractures

Displaced acetabular fractures must be treated as soon as the patient is stable, ideally in the first two weeks postinjury. Now, surgical reconstruction of recent displaced acetabular fractures has become the accepted treatment of choice for achieving the best long term results following injury. Early radiological evaluation yielded a perfect reduction in [26] patients [28.38%], near perfect reduction in [31] patients [37.11%], good reduction in [26] patients [28.38%] and failure in [7] patients [7.10%]. The late radiological results after at least 12 months, were excellent in [36] [13.3%], poor in [8] patients [8.8%], 34 patients were good and 12 patients were fair. The functional results were excellent in [29] patients [32.2%], good in 44 patients [48.9%].Fair in 10 patients [11.1%] and poor in 7 patients [7.8%]. The common postoperative complications, were sciatic nerve injury in [8] patients [8.9%] and heterotopic ossification in 8 patients [8.9%]

Atlanto - axial rotatory instability

Atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation was diagnosed in 13 patients. Traumatic cases has been recorded in [11] patients [84.16%] in which the rotatory instability was postulated as a result of direct trauma. Seven cases [63.63%] out of 11 cases] were diagnosed early by the aid of radiography and computed axial tomography and they were reduced spontaneously. While the remaining 4 cases [36.37%] were treated by short period of halter traction to achieved reduction and were followed by collar support. Non traumatic subluxation of the altantoaxial joint following peripharyngeal inflammation [Grisel's syndrome], were seen in 2 patients [15.48%] which has been attributed to laxity of the transverse ligament caused by inflammatory hyperemia. These [2 cases, [15.84%]] were diagnosed 10 months later and were submitted to cervical fusion in situ for instability