Modified Stoppa approach for surgical treatment of acetabular fracture

We analyzed the extent of the comminution in the acetabular weight-bearing area, the clinical and radiographic results, and the complications after a minimum 2-year follow-up of the modified Stoppa approach for the treatment of acetabular fractures, and we attempted to evaluate the efficacy of the operative technique.

All of the 22 patients, who needed the anterior approach for the treatment of acetabular fractures at our hospital from November 2007 to November 2010, were subjected to surgery via the modified Stoppa approach. Fracture pattern, operative time, blood loss during the operation, quality of reduction, number of bony fragments in the acetabular weight-bearing area, and postoperative complications were assessed by retrospectively analyzing the medical records and the radiographic examinations. The results after the operation were analyzed based on the criteria of Matta.

The clinical results were excellent in 3 cases, good in 13 cases, and poor in 4 cases, while the radiographic results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 13 cases, and poor in 2 cases. Although the quality of reduction and the clinical results according to the extent of comminution were statistically significant (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively), the radiographic results were not statistically significant (p = 0.74).

It can be concluded that the modified Stoppa approach could be used as an alternative to the classic ilioinguinal approach. In addition, comminution of the acetabular fracture was an important factor causing non-anatomic reduction and finally unsatisfactory clinical results.