[Fractures of acetabulum and pelvic ring--epidemiology and clinical outcome]

From 1980 to 1995 inclusive we conducted a study on pelvic ring and acetabular fractures in Kantonspital Chur (KSC). 118 patients were studied and of these 51 had pelvic ring fractures and 67 acetabular fractures. Most of the patients with pelvic ring fractures had additional severe injuries and almost two thirds of them were polytraumatised and very shocked. One third of the acetabular patients were polytraumatised and about one fifth shocked. The length of the hospital stay was also noteworthy--an average of 47 days for the pelvic ring fractures and 30 days for the acetabular fractures. These injuries mainly affected patients in the active working age group (20-60 years of age). 56 of these had acetabular fractures and 39 had pelvic ring fractures. From 51 patients (76%) treated with acetabular fractures and 45 with pelvic ring fractures (88%) (i.e. of total 96 (81%)) we have summarised our results. About two thirds of the patients were followed up at one year and the AO documentation form completed. The remainder were sent a questionnaire. The results showed that 84% of the acetabular fracture group and 83% of the pelvic ring fractures had a good or excellent final result. Radiological complications noted in the acetabular fracture group were early signs of degenerative disease (18), a slight pelvic tilt (8), heterotopic ossification (7), early evidence of femoral head necrosis (3) and 1 definite pseudoarthrosis. Additionally 7 patients had significant motor or sensory loss. By comparison, those with pelvic ring fractures showed less in the way of radiological complications. 17 patients were seen to have a slight tilt, 9 showed initial signs of arthrosis and there was 1 pseudoarthrosis. Of the 5 patients in this group with neurological damage, 3 had difficulty in achieving an erection and 2 had urological problems. One patient who had a pelvic ring fracture had to have a caesarean section for a subsequent pregnancy.