Effort to standardize surgical approach in acetabular fracture

Considerable progress has been made in the past two decades in the field of acetabular fractures. The choice of surgical approach to these fractures is a major decision. How can the orthopaedic surgeon be assured that his chosen approach will give him maximum visualization of his fracture site so as to reduce and fix it in an optimal fashion? Following an objective radiologic evaluation system, 55 consecutive acetabular fractures were analyzed. The results were analyzed according to the surgical approach used. For complex fractures involving the anterior and posterior column, an extensive approach is the most useful.