Surgical management of fractures of the acetabulum: the Sheffield experience 1976–1994

• Published in: Injury Vol. 28; no. 1; pp. 35 - 40
• Main Authors: Hull, J.B., Raza, S.A., Stockley, I., Elson, R.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acetabulum - diagnostic imaging; Acetabulum - injuries; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Plates; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Fractures, Bone - diagnostic imaging; Fractures, Bone - surgery; Hip Prosthesis; Humans; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Radiography; Reoperation; Retrospective Studies; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Treatment Outcome; Human; Open reduction; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Lower limb; Acetabulum; Osteosynthesis; Fracture; Trauma; Hip; Retrospective; Surgery; Combined treatment; Bone
• ISSN: 0020-1383; 1879-0267
• DOI: 10.1016/S0020-1383(96)00144-1

Of 56 acetabular fractures treated in Sheffield between 1976 and 1994, 43 fractures in 40 patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation. This paper reviews the surgically managed fractures with emphasis on the quality of operative reduction and outcome, in particular the development of degenerative osteoarthritis leading to total hip replacement. A good clinical result following operative management was seen to correlate closely with a near perfect reduction; in contrast, all cases with a poor reduction underwent joint replacement in the follow-up period. The relatively few cases managed at a major referral centre in this series suggests that either the incidence of acetabular fracture is low in the area or that only a proportion of cases are referred from the surrounding district general hospitals.