Acetabular fractures

Acetabular fractures are not uncommon injuries of the pelvis. They are most frequently associated with high energy trauma such as that seen in a motor vehicle accident. Management of patients with acetabular fractures includes careful attention to ATLS (advanced Trauma Life Support) protocols and delayed operative treatment of the acetabular fractures. Diagnostic evaluation with plain radiography and CT is used to plan the treatment approach. Treatment includes not only the recognition of the fracture but avoidance of early and late complications. Emergent treatment includes closed reduction of associated hip dislocations followed by skeletal traction. Delayed reconstruction at four days after the injury decreases intraoperative blood loss by allowing retroperitoneal hemorrhage to subside. Final outcome after acetabular trauma depends not only on the reconstruction of the fracture, but the avoidance of complications. Acetabular fractures are becoming an increasingly common orthopedic injury. Fractures of the acetabulum (or hip socket) are most commonly seen after motor vehicle accidents. Young patients (18 to 30 years old) are typically affected. A frequent mechanism of injury is a direct blow to the anterior aspect of the knee with the hip flexed such as a dashboard injury in an automobile accident. Other mechanisms of injury include direct blows to the lateral aspect of the hip as in a fall from a height or a side impact automobile collision.