Fixation of Displaced Acetabular Fractures With an Anatomic Quadrilateral Surface Plate Through the Stoppa Approach

Satisfactory fixation for displaced acetabular fractures involving the quadrilateral surface remains difficult to obtain with conventional reconstruction plates. To achieve minimally invasive management of fractures of the quadrilateral surface, the authors designed a type of anatomic quadrilateral surface plate (AQSP). A retrospective study to assess the therapeutic results of the AQSP was performed at their institution. A total of 26 patients with quadrilateral surface fractures fixed with an AQSP through the Stoppa approach from February 2014 to February 2015 were included in this study. There were 16 men and 10 women with a mean age of 37.5 years. The patients were followed for a mean of 28.81 months (range, 24-36 months). The mean operative time was 98.85±16.08 minutes, and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 353.85±124.84 mL. Postoperative radiographs and computed tomography scans showed that anatomic and good reductions were obtained in 88.46% (23 patients) and 11.54% (3 patients) of the patients, respectively. Screw loosening was not observed. All of the fractures healed well at a mean of 3.54 months. Two cases of obturator nerve injury and 1 case of corona mortis rupture were observed. However, permanent complications were not observed. The mean Merle d'Aubigné score at final follow-up was 16.38±1.33 points. The authors conclude that satisfactory fixation with the AQSP system can be achieved through the Stoppa approach. [Orthopedics. 2019; 42(2):e180-e186.].