Anatomical Posterior Acetabular Plate Versus Conventional Reconstruction Plates for Acetabular Posterior Wall...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Surgery
• Skeletal Reconstruction

Background:

• Surgical fixation of acetabular posterior wall fractures presents challenges in achieving functional recovery.
• Comparing anatomical posterior acetabular plates (APAP) with conventional reconstruction plates is crucial for optimizing treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of anatomical posterior acetabular plates (APAP) versus conventional reconstruction plates for acetabular posterior wall fractures.
• To evaluate differences in surgical time, blood loss, functional recovery, radiological outcomes, and complications between the two surgical techniques.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 40 patients with acetabular posterior wall fractures, divided into APAP (n=20) and conventional plate (n=20) groups.
• Data collected included baseline characteristics, intraoperative metrics, reduction quality, postoperative functional scores (modified Merle d'Aubigné, OHS), and complications.
• Statistical analysis utilized non-parametric tests and repeated measures ANOVA to compare outcomes between groups.

Main Results:

• The APAP group showed significantly reduced surgical time (40 min less) and intraoperative blood loss compared to the conventional group.
• Higher functional scores were observed in the APAP group at 3 and 6 months post-surgery, with scores converging by 12 months.
• APAP demonstrated superior radiological outcomes, with no significant difference in complication or hip arthroplasty conversion rates.

Conclusions:

• Anatomical posterior acetabular plates (APAP) offer significant advantages in reconstructing posterior acetabular fractures.
• APAP use leads to reduced surgical time, decreased blood loss, and accelerated functional recovery compared to conventional plates.
• The technique provides stable fixation and durable maintenance of reduction, resulting in favorable surgical outcomes.