ABSTRACT
We report a combined prospective and retrospective study of 63 acetabular fractures treated by open reduction and internal fixation. The average age of the patients at the time of injury was 32 years. Reduction leaving displacement of one to two mm was achieved in 51 hips [81%]. Follow-up was with an average of 8.7 years [range 2 to 16 years]. We obtained good or excellent functional results in 47 patients [74.5%] and good or excellent radiological results in 44 patients [70%] and there was strong correlation between the functional and radiological results [p =0.0001]. Anatomical reduction was the most predictive of good or excellent results [p = 0.002]. Total hip arthroplasty or arthrodesis had been performed in 16 patients [25%] who had late symptomatic degenerative changes, so promising short term results of open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fractures are of limited value and long term studies should be considered