[TREATMENT OF ACETABULAR ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR COLUMN FRACTURES BY MODIFIED Stoppa APPROACH]

To evaluate the surgical techniques, perioperative complications, clinical outcomes of the modified Stoppa approach in the treatment of acetabular anterior and posterior column fractures.

Between March 2008 and October 2014, 42 cases of acetabular anterior and posterior column fractures were treated by modified Stoppa approach or modified Stoppa approach combined with iliac fossa approach, and the clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. There were 20 females and 22 males with an average age of 43.2 years (range, 19-68 years). Fractures were caused by traffic accident in 21 cases, by falling from height in 16 cases, and by heavy pound in 5 cases. The time from injury to operation was 3-15 days (mean, 6 days). According to fracture classification of Letournel-Judet, there were 20 cases of both column fractures, 15 cases of anterior and posterior hemi-transverse fractures and 7 cases of T-shaped fractures. The intraoperative blood loss, the amount of blood transfusion, the operation time, the volumn of drainage, and complication were recorded. Matta radiological standard was used to evaluate the reduction quality of fracture, and Merled'Aubigné-Postel system to evaluate hip function.

The average intraoperative blood loss was 900 mL; the average amount of blood transfusion was 400 mL; the average volume of drainage was 110 mL; and the average operation time was 165 minutes. Intraoperative complications included 4 cases of tractive injury of obturator nerve and 2 cases of the external iliac vein injury, and postoperative complications included 2 cases of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve palsies and 1 case of deep vein embolism of lower extremity, which were improved after treatment. The patients were followed up 36 months on average (range, 12-48 months). There was no infection or heterotopic ossification. According to Matta radiological evaluation system, the reduction quality of fractures was rated as excellent in 21 cases, good in 16 cases, and poor in 5 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 88.1%. The healing time of fracture was 3.5-8.0 months (mean, 5.1 months). According to Merled'Aubigné-Postel system for hip function, 20 cases were graded as excellent, 15 cases as good, 4 cases as fair, and 3 cases as poor, with an excellent and good rate of 83.3% at last follow-up.

Modified Stoppa approach or with iliac fossa approach can get full exposure of quadrilateral area, good reduction, and firm internal fixation in the treatment of acetabular fractures associated with T-shaped fractures, both column fractures, anterior and posterior hemi-transverse fractures.