OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical effect of acetabular posterior wall fractures with reconstruction plate internal fixation.

METHODSFrom January 2001 to January 2006, 45 cases were studied retrospectively including, 31 males and 14 females. The age ranged from 19 to 68 years, mean 37.6 years. All patients of acetabular posterior wall fractures were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with reconstruction plate. All patients were reviewed retrospectively. All patients were treated with the Kocher-Langenbeck approach.

RESULTSForty-five patients were followed up for 12 to 48 months, averaged 26 months. By Matta's X-ray reduction criteria, there were 38 cases of anatomical reduction, 7 cases of satisfactory. By modified d'Aubigne clinical evaluation criteria, the clinical results were excellent in 30 cases, good in 10 cases and fair in 5 cases, excellent and good rate of clinical results was 88.9%. There were no infection and non-union. The complications included traumatic osteoarthritis in 4, aseptic necrosis of the femoral head in 2, heterotopic osteogenesis in 2 and deep venous thromboembolism in 1.

CONCLUSIONFractures of acetabular posterior wall with reconstruction plate internal fixation can gain good clinical results. The quality of fracture reduction, the time to surgery after injury, experience of surgical operation and the degree of fracture comminution are the factors influencing the operative results of posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum.