Surgical management of fractures of the acetabulum: the Sheffield experience 1976-1994

Of 56 acetabular fractures treated in Sheffield between 1976 and 1994, 43 fractures in 40 patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation. This paper reviews the surgically managed fractures with emphasis on the quality of operative reduction and outcome, in particular the development of degenerative osteoarthritis leading to total hip replacement. A good clinical result following operative management was seen to correlate closely with a near perfect reduction; in contrast, all cases with a poor reduction underwent joint replacement in the follow-up period. The relatively few cases managed at a major referral centre in this series suggest that either the incidence of acetabular fracture is low in the area or that only a proportion of cases are referred from the surrounding district general hospitals.