Treatment of Acetabular Fractures

Lee, Han Koo; Lee, Choon Seong; Tae, Suk Kee

Abstract

Acetabular fractures are usually caused by violent external force such as car clash and commonly accompany injuries of the other parts of the body. And there has been long controversy between conservative and operative treatments. A clinical analysis was performed on the 29 patients with acetabular fractures, who had been treated at seoul National University Hospital from 1973 to 1982, mainly focussed on the result of treatment. Followings are the summary of the result. 1. Conservative treatment was done in 52% and operative treatment in 48%. 2. Mean follow-up period was 1 year and 8 months. 3. The result of treatment was good or fair in 53% of conservative treatment group comparedto 71 in operative treatment group. 4. Primary total hip replacement was done in one case of bursting fracture combined with fracture of femur neck and the result was good. 5. Superior and bursting fractures showed the worst result(poor in 83%). 6. Degenerative arthritis with or without avascular necrosis was the most common complication (45 %) and it was more common in conservative treatment group (60 vs. 29%). 7. From above results it could be said that operative treatment in acetabular fractures, if carefully done with reasonable indications, would improve the result and decrease the rate of degenerative arthritis.