Acetabular Fractures:
Surgical Management
Philip J. Kregor, MD
Orthopedic Traumatology
University of Mississippi Med Center
Jackson, Mississippi
Created March 2004; Reviewed January 2007
Objectives
•Goal of Operative Management
•Specific Approaches for Specific Fractures
•Indications for Kocher-Langenbeck Approach
•Indications for Ilioinguinal Approach
•Reduction Strategies
Letournel School
•Thorough Understanding of Plain Films
•Optimize One Surgical Approach
•Goal of Perfect Concentric Reduction
GOAL: Anatomic Reduction
EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR POOR
Timing of Surgery: Criteria
•Well - resuscitated patient
•Appropriate radiological work-up
•Appropriate understanding of fracture
•Appropriate operative team
Matta 1996
Timing of Surgery and
Anatomical Reductions
•0-7 Days 74%
•8-14 Days71%
•15-21 Days57%
Surgical Emergencies: Rare
•Open Acetabular Fracture
•New-Onset Sciatic Nerve Palsy after closed
reduction of Hip dislocation
Surgical Urgencies: Infrequent
•Irreducible Posterior Hip Dislocation
•Medial Dislocation of Femoral Head
against cancellous bone surface of intact
Ilium
Matta 1996
NOT Predictive of
CLINICAL OUTCOME
•Type of fracture pattern
•Posterior dislocation
•Initial displacement
•Presence of intra-articular fragments
•Presence of acetabular impaction
Matta 1996
Predictive of
CLINICAL OUTCOME
•Injury to Cartilage or Bone of Femoral
Head
–Damage: 60% Good / Excellent Result
–No Damage: 80% Good / Excellent Result
•Anatomic Reduction
•Age of Patient …….. But only in that it
predicts the ability to achieve an anatomic
reduction
Approaches to the Acetabulum
•Posterior: Kocher - Langenbeck
•Anterior: Ilioinguinal
•Extensile: Extended Iliofemoral
Complications with KL
•Sciatic Nerve Palsy 10%
•Infection 3%
Limitations: Kocher-Langenbeck
•Superior Acetabular Region
•Anterior Column
•Fractures High in Greater Sciatic Notch
Prone Position
•Aids in Reduction of Ischiopubic Segment
•Facilitates Palpation of Quadrilateral
Surface
•Allows Clamp Placement through Greater
Sciatic Notch
•Easier Prep and Drape
Special Case
“T-Type” Acetabular Fracture
Proximal Femur Fracture
14 y.o. Male
Sequential K-L / Ilioinguinal
Approaches
P.J. 00.12.16
P.J. 00.12.16
P.J. 00.12.16
P.J. 00.12.16
Initial Kocher-Langenbeck
Approach
P.J. 00.12.18
P.J. 00.12.18
Subsequent Ilioinguinal
Approach
P.J. 00.12.22
Intra-Operative Assessment of
Reduction
•Visual Assessment of Fracture Reduction
•Palpation of Fracture
–Quadrilateral surface through Greater Sciatic
Notch
–Anterior Column
•C-Arm assessment
•Plain A.P. Radiograph
•Assurance that all Screws are out of Joint
Assessment of Reduction
•Restoration of Pelvic Lines
•Concentric Reduction on all 3 Views
•Goal of Anatomic Reduction
Letournel 1993
Avascular Necrosis
“In our opinion avascular necrosis is a diagnosis much too often
put forward to explain a post-operative complication. Since it is
known that there is nothing we can do about it, as the trauma is
considered solely responsible for it, there is much too great a
tendency to blame necrosis for what is really a wearing of the
femoral head against a malreduced fracture line. If wear takes
place there is disappearance of a segment of the head but no
sequestrum formation, and the shape of the loss of substance is
the negative imprint of the shape responsible for the wear: the
step in the acetabular reconstruction. For instance, wearing
against a transverse fracture line appears on the antero-posterior
view as an orange-slice-shaped missing part of the head without
any sequestrum.”
Heterotopic Ossification:
Brooker Classification
•I: Islands of bone less than 1 cm in diameter
•II: Larger islands of bone, leaving at least 1 cm
free space between the two bones of the hip
•III: Free space between the ossification and the
pelvis or the femur is less than 1 cm
•IV:Apparent ankylosis of the joint by a bony
bridge uniting the pelvis and the femur
Heterotopic Ossification
•Classification does not predict mobility
•Approach:
–34% Grade III / IV Extended Iliofemoral
–11% Grade III / IV Kocher-Langenbeck
–1 % Grade III / IV Ilioinguinal
•“Ectopic bone formation appears early on
radiography, and maturity is reached 6
months to 1 year after operation.”
Significant HO
(0 , 90° Hip Flexion)
•KL 8%
•II 2%
•EIF 20%
Prophylaxis for HO
•Indomethacin
•700 cGy radiation
•Combination
Conclusions
•Good Understanding of the Fracture
•Know the Anatomy
•Optimize One Surgical Approach
•Goal of Perfect Reduction
THANK YOU
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