Operative management of acetabular fracture: A 10-year experience in Isfahan, Iran

BACKGROUND: Pelvic and acetabular fractures constitute 2% of all fractures. The aim of the present study was to present acetabular fracture outcome in patients who underwent operative treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a prospective cohort study, which was performed in Isfahan, Iran. During the period study, all patients who admitted to Alzahra Hospital with acetabular fracture and underwent acetabular surgery were evaluated. Data about age, sex, associated fractures, Intensive Care Unit admission, the time between admission and surgery were gathered. Patients were encouraged to return to the hospital after 1 week, 4 weeks, 6 months, and then yearly for the follow-up. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients with acetabular fractures were referred to our hospital. Of them, 30 patients were indicated for surgical intervention and recruited in the study. The most frequent type of fracture involved posterior wall accounting for 49.9% of all fractures. More than 80% of study patients reached satisfactory results (excellent or good) based on Harris Hip Score (HHS). Female patients had significantly lower HHS in comparison with male patients (P = 0.01). Heterotopic ossification (HO) formation was more common in whom surgery was performed after 2 weeks (P = 0.005), however, there was no significant difference in HHS between these groups (P = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that the female gender had an impact on the surgical outcome of acetabular fracture and indicated the lower functional outcome. Although there is an increase in HO formation in patients who do not undergo surgery during 2 weeks after the trauma, however, it does not influence the surgical outcome.