Update on post-traumatic periprosthetic acetabular fractures.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Arthroplasty

Background:

• Post-traumatic periprosthetic acetabular fractures are rare but severe complications following hip arthroplasty.
• Existing literature on these fractures is limited due to small patient cohorts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize post-traumatic periprosthetic acetabular fractures.
• To evaluate the functional outcomes and complication rates of surgical management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 20 patients over six years (2016-2021).
• Data collected included demographics, prosthesis details, trauma characteristics, and treatment type.
• Functional outcomes assessed using the Harris Hip Score (HHS); complications meticulously recorded.

Main Results:

• The study included 20 patients (mean age 77 years), all with comorbidities.
• 75% had pure transverse fractures; 90% had a transverse component, often destabilizing the acetabular implant.
• Mean HHS was 75.5; common complications included dislocations (30%), infections (20%), and need for revision surgery (30%).

Conclusions:

• Post-traumatic periprosthetic acetabular fractures frequently exhibit a transverse component, increasing implant destabilization risk.
• High complication rates, particularly dislocations, necessitate frequent revision surgeries.
• Combined osteosynthesis and acetabular reconstruction yielded the best surgical outcomes, suggesting improved preoperative planning is crucial.