The triradiate incision for acetabular fractures. A prospective study of 23 cases

24 acetabular fractures, displaced in the dome, were operated on through the triradiate incision, and 23 were followed for at least 2 years. All but one fracture were anatomically reduced in the dome. At follow-up, 7 hips had developed arthrosis, all with comminuted fractures with separate osteochondral dome fragments. Heterotopic bone formation occurred in 13 hips: 10/14 with indomethacin prophylaxis had no heterotopic bone, whereas all 9 without indomethacin prophylaxis had. We conclude that the triradiate incision is suitable for surgical treatment of complex acetabular fractures, and that the heterotopic bone formation can be reduced by indomethacin prophylaxis.