[Primary total endoprosthetic hip joint replacement in acetabulum fractures]

Conservative treatment of acetabular fractures mean a long period with immobilisation followed by quite a few of complications that are life-threatening to old patients. Besides that these fractures often cause painful posttraumatic osteoarthritis of the hip joint. Open reduction and osteosynthesis is favored more and more, but the complications described cannot be avoided absolutely by surgical treatment. The sequelae are risky reoperations and the necessity for implantation of total joint prosthesis. As shown in the enclosed case reports, total hip replacement can be emphasized as first step and as definitive surgery. Implantation of an artificial joint allows postoperative remobilisation with full weight bearing and long lasting immobilisation can be avoided. Therefore this kind of therapy is justified for treatment of old and polymorbid patients as an out of rule therapy.