The W-shaped acetabular angular plate for the treatment of acetabular posterior wall fractures through the direct posterior approach / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the follow-up clinical results of W-shaped acetabular angular plate for the treatment of acetabular posterior wall fractures through a direct posterior approach (DPA).Methods:Fifteen cases (10 males and 5 females, average aged 42.1±10.0 years) were involved in this study, with acetabular posterior wall fractures treated by using the W-shaped acetabular angular plate through a DPA between March 2017 and June 2019. Nine patients with fractures were injured by traffic accidents and the other 6 cases by falling. Based on the three-column classification for acetabular fractures, all of the cases belonged to posterior wall fractures (A2.1), which included 6 cases of simple fractures and 9 cases of comminuted fractures. The mean time interval between injury and surgery was 5.6±1.1 (range, 4-8) days. The DPA was adopted in all cases. The posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum were reduced and fixed with W-shaped acetabular angular plates. The reduction quality of the acetabulum was evaluated by X-ray and CT scan during follow-up visits according to the criteria proposed by Matta. The function of the hip joint was assessed by the Merle d'Aubigné-Posteal score modified by Matta.Results:The length of the surgical incision was 9.5±1.1 (range, 8-12) cm. The operation time was 45.3±10.1 (range, 35-75) mins. The amount of intraoperative blood loss was 248.0±94.7 (range, 100-380) ml. All the patients who were followed up for 20.5±6.3 (range, 16-38) months. All cases were evaluated according to Matta's reduction quality criteria, the satisfactory ratio of reduction was 100%. Among cases, 10 cases were matched the anatomic reduction, and the other 5 cases have belonged to satisfy. All cases of fractures had healed (the mean of healing time was 9.4±1.3 (range, 8-12 weeks). At the final follow-up visit, the mean of modified Merle d'Aubigne-Postel score was 16.9±1.6 (range, 13-18). Excellent clinical outcomes were obtained in 10 cases, good in 3 cases, and fair in 2 cases. One case had deep venous thrombosis of the lower extremities. The clots disappeared after anticoagulation treatment. One case had the heterotopic ossification, Brooker grade I, without any special treatment due to not affecting the hip joint activity in the follow-up visits. One patient had incision fat liquefaction and the wound healed after intensive dressing change. No internal fixation loosening or losing of fracture reduction was found at the follow-up visits.Conclusion:This study shows that using W-shaped acetabular angular plate for the treatment of acetabular posterior wall fractures through the DPA could obtain early satisfactory clinical outcomes.