OBJECTIVETo discuss feasibility and clinical effects of minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis in treating acetabulum anterior column fracture with intact true pelvic brim.

METHODSFrom May 2013 to December 2015, 8 patients with acetabulum anterior column fracture with intact true pelvic brim were reviewed retrospectively. According to Judet-Letournel classification, all were simple unstable acetabulum anterior column fracture. Among them, there were 5 males and 3 females with an average age of 42.8 years old ranging from 22 to 63. The injury was caused by crush in 4 cases, smash of heavy object in 3 cases, and falling down in 1 case. The time from injury to operation was ranged from 5 to 19 days with an average of 9.5 days. Preoperative CT showed high anterior column fracture of acetabulum with intact true pelvic brim, the fracture separation was less than 1 cm. All the patients were treated with closed reduction and minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis. The quality of fracture reduction, operation time, blood loss, fracture healing time, hip function and postoperative complications were observed and recorded.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 10 to 19 months with an average of 14.5 months. The quality of reduction was classified as anatomical in 4 patients, imperfect in 3, poor in 1 by Matta's score system. The operation time was 30 to 80 min, averaged 51.3 min;the blood loss was 50 to 120 ml, averaged 86.2 ml; fracture healing time was 10 to 19 weeks, averaged 13.3 weeks. At the latest follow-up, the hip function was evaluated by Merle D'Aubigne scoring system, 5 cases got excellent results, 2 cases in good, and 1 case in fair. No vascular nerve injury, wound infection, bleeding, deep vein thrombosis and other complications occurred in 8 patients.

CONCLUSIONSMinimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis in treating acetabulum anterior column fracture with intact true pelvic brim has advantages of less trauma, less bleeding, quick recovery and good curative effect, and it is a good surgical procedures for acetabulum anterior column fracture.