OBJECTIVETo evaluate the modified Stoppa approach in treatment of pelvic and acetabular fractures.

METHODSFrom March 2010 to May 2012,16 patients with pelvic fractures and 7 patients with acetabutar fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation through the modified Stoppa approach,involving 18 males and 5 females with an average age of 39 years ranging from 17 to 65. By Tile classification, 16 cases of pelvic fractures included 1 case of B1, 2 of B2, 3 of B3, 4 of C1-1, 2 of C1-2, 2 of C1-3, and 1 of C2. By Letournel classification, 7 cases of acetabular fractures included 1 case of anterior column fractures, 1 of transverse fractures, 2 of type T, 1 of anterior column plus posterior transverse fractures, and 2 cases of both columns fractures. For 16 pelvic fractures, the modified Stoppa approach was used exclusively in 9 cases,in combination with the iliac fossa approach in 6 cases, and in combination with the posterior approach in 1 case. For 7 acetabular fractures, the modified Stoppa approach was used exclusively in 4 cases, in combination with the Kocher-Langenbeck approach in 2 cases, and in combination with the Kocher-Langenbeck and iliac fossa approaches in 1 case of both columns fractures.

RESULTSThe average operation time was 130 min (50 to 350 min) and the blood loss averaged 320 ml (100 to 1200 ml). There were no operative complications. The reductions of the pelvic and acetabular fractures were all excellent and good. Twenty-one patients were followed-up from 4 to 24 months (averaged 8 months). The fractures were all healed,the fracture healing time was 2.5 to 5 months (means 3.2 months). Among them, 1 case occurrenced screw loosening, 1 case had mild limited of hip flexion, no case had plate breakage and lateral ventral syndrome.

CONCLUSIONThe modified Stoppa approach can be used to treat pelvic and acetabular fractures effectively, and it has advantages of easy manipulation and a low complication rate.