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OBJECTIVE: To conduct a prospective study on unstable and incongruent fractures of the acetabulum, in comparison with the literature, covering the type of access, fixation materials, degree of reduction, type of fracture and results after surgery. METHODS: The authors evaluated 76 patients with unstable and incongruent fracture of the acetabulum between January 1999 and December 2009. The Marvin Tile classification was used, and all cases were treated surgically using the technique recommended by the AO-ASIF group. RESULTS: The radiological evaluation was done in accordance with the Ruesch criteria, and good, excellent or perfect results were obtained for 64 patients (84.2%). The clinical evaluation was done in accordance with the Harris criteria, and good or excellent results were obtained for 62 patients (81.6%). The complications were assessed and, in comparison with the literature, were shown to be compatible with previous reports even after the statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that anatomical reduction and stable fixation are important for good results.
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OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to review the epidemiological aspects of displacement fractures of the acetabulum that had been treated surgically at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (INTO). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 126 acetabulum fractures that had been treated surgically at INTO between March 2006 and November 2008. The following factors were taken into account: age, sex, trauma mechanism, injury classification, time elapsed between trauma and surgery, affected side and associated bone injuries. RESULTS: 76.8% were male; the mean age was 39.6 years. The trauma mechanism was traffic accidents in 59%; the time that elapsed between injury and surgery was on average 16.4 days; 55% of the cases were on the right side; 30% of the patients presented associated fractures. CONCLUSION: Most of the patients were male, in an economically active age group, and were victims of traffic accidents. Edge and/or posterior column fractures were the most frequent types. Associated injuries were common and most of the fractures operated in our service came to us late.
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OBJECTIVE: Correlate the postoperative radiographic evaluation with variables accompanying acetabular fractures in order to determine the predictive factors for segmental impaction of femoral head. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medial files of patients submitted to open reduction surgery with internal acetabular fixation. Within approximately 35 years, 596 patients were treated for acetabular fractures; 267 were followed up for at least two years. The others were excluded either because their follow up was shorter than the minimum time, or as a result of the lack of sufficient data reported on files, or because they had been submitted to non-surgical treatment. The patients were followed up by one of three surgeons of the group using the Merle d'Aubigné and Postel clinical scales as well as radiological studies. RESULTS: Only tow studied variables-age and amount of postoperative reductionshowed statistically significant correlation with femoral head impaction. CONCLUSIONS: The quality of reduction-anatomical or with up to 2mm residual deviation-presents a good radiographic evolution, reducing the potential for segmental impaction of the femoral head, a statistically significant finding.