Surgical Treatment of Acetabular Fracture / 대한정형외과학회잡지

ABSTRACT

Fractures of the acetabulum are relatively uncommon. But if fractures of the acetubulum are not accurately evaluated, classified, and reduced anatomically, major sequalae and complications are frequently developed. Because of complicated anatomy, difficulty with surgical exposure, severe comminution, and major associated injuries, the treatment of displaced acetabular fractures between conservative and operative methods is still controversial. We reviewed thirty five cases of displaced acetabular fracture treated operaively from January 1984 to December 1991. The prevalent age was the fourth decade. There was twenty seven cases of associated injuries, twenty two dislocations of the hip. According to the Letournel's classification, the most common fracture type was posterior wall and both column type. The fracture was fixed internally with only screws in thirteen cases and with plate and screws in twenty two cases. Among thirty five patients, five patients were lost in the follow up and another five patients had followed up lesser than one year. The mean duration of follow-up afrer the operation was three years (range, one to eight years). Among twenty five patients who had followed up more than one year, the satisfactory results were achieved in nineteen patients (76%) and the poor results were achieved in three patients (8%). The complications were post-traumatic arthritis, avascular necrosis of femoral head, osteomyelitis in iliac bone, skin necrosis, and heterotopic ossification.