Fractures of the posterior wall of the acetabulum: treatment using internal fixation of two parallel reconstruction plates.

Objectives: Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment method using internal fixation of parallel reconstruction plates for the posterior wall of the acetabulum fractures.

Design: Randomised, prospective.

Setting: Level I trauma centre.

Patients/participants: 57 patients with posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum in our department from 2007 to 2010 were treated operatively using this technique.

Intervention: internal fixation of two parallel reconstruction plates was used in this study. One of the plates was near the border of acetabulum. The other was parallel to the former one and was located to stress concentrated area.

Main Outcome Measurements: The clinical outcome was evaluated using the clinical grading system and radiological outcome was evaluated according to the criteria described by Matta. In addition, complications were researched in this study.

Results: The percentages of the clinical excellent-to-good and fair-to-poor results were 93.0% and 7%, respectively. We found that clinical outcome had no correlation with age, operation time from injury to operation, nor had correlation with hip dislocation, comminuted fracture condition and marginal compression fracture. Anatomical reduction was significantly correlated with excellent-to-good clinical outcome. Necrosis of the femoral head and heterotopic ossification were prone to decline the outcome of acetabular fractures despite good fracture reduction.

Conclusions: the internal fixation of two parallel reconstruction plates facilitated rigid fixation and avoided fracture fragment injury, was an effective and reliable alternative method to treat fractures of the posterior wall of the acetabulum.