EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ACETABULUM FRACTURES TREATED AT THE INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE TRAUMATOLOGIA E ORTOPEDIA (INTO)

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to review the epidemiological aspects of displacement fractures of the acetabulum that had been treated surgically at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (INTO). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 126 acetabulum fractures that had been treated surgically at INTO between March 2006 and November 2008. The following factors were taken into account: age, sex, trauma mechanism, injury classification, time elapsed between trauma and surgery, affected side and associated bone injuries. Results: 76.8% were male; the mean age was 39.6 years. The trauma mechanism was traffic accidents in 59%; the time that elapsed between injury and surgery was on average 16.4 days; 55% of the cases were on the right side; 30% of the patients presented associated fractures. Conclusion: Most of the patients were male, in an economically active age group, and were victims of traffic accidents. Edge and/or posterior column fractures were the most frequent types. Associated injuries were common and most of the fractures operated in our service came to us late.