OBJECTIVETo explore the operative methods and effects of treatment of old acetabular fractures.

METHODSFrom October 2001 to October 2007, 26 patients with old acetabular fractures were treated with operation including 21 males and 5 females with an average age of 34 years ranging from 18 to 65 years. On the basis of the three-dimensional computed tomography, all cases were diagnosed and classified according to Letourne-Judet classification, 9 cases were posterior wall fracture, 3 cases were lateropulsition fracture, 7 cases were lateropulsition and posterior wall fracture, 2 cases were posterior column and posterior wall fracture, 2 were T-shape fracture, 3 were dual column fracture. These patients were treated through the anterior,posterior, combined anterior-posterior approaches. The time from injured to operation was 33 to 141 days (averaged 36.4 days). All the fractures were fixed with screws and AO reconstruction plates.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 6 to 96 months, with an average time of 32.4 months. Evaluated according to Matta criteria, the results of scores was (5.04 +/- 1.04) on pain, (5.23 +/- 0.76) on range of motion, (4.92 +/- 1.16) on walking,and tatal (5.06 +/- 0.99) on average; The functional results of hip joints were excellent in 6 cases, good in 10 cases, fair in 6 cases, and poor in 4 cases. Sciatic nerve injury was found in 2 patients,lateral femoral cutaneus nerve injury in 3 patients, necrosis of femoral head in 1 patient,infection in 1 patient, and ectopic bone formation in 6 patients.

CONCLUSIONGood clinical results can be obtained by careful selection of operative indications of old acetabular fractures in combination with proper operative approach and correct reduction and fixation.