[Indications for surgical treatment of fractures of the acetabulum]

The indications for surgery in fractures of the acetabulum within 3 weeks from the accident are currently based on 2 main factors: 1) post-traumatic articular incongruence doubtlessly is the cause of traumatic coxitis: 2) however, it has been proved that fractures with partial post-traumatic incongruence that have not been treated may produce very good results. The current problem is that it is impossible to assess the degree of incongruence that can be tolerated to avoid surgery and guarantee good long-term results. Computers will maybe help to solve this problem. The indications are currently based on the approximate assessment of congruence on the basis of 3 plain radiographs, tomography and CT. Osteonecrosis of the femoral head is much less frequent than it is said to be, and most often actually consists in the wear of the femoral head on a non-reduced line of fracture, whether or not the patient has been operated.