Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical effect of Kocher-Langebeck (K-L) approach without cutting the short external rotator muscles of hip for treatment of cetabular posterior column fractures.Methods A retrospective case series study was performed on 28 patients with acetabular fractures admitted from June 2015 to February 2017.There were 23 males and 5 females,averagely aged 43.6 years (range,26-71 years).According to the Letournel classification,there were 9 patients with simple fractures,14 back wall and back pillar fractures and 5 cross fractures.All patients were combined with posterior dislocation.The patients were given tibial tubercle traction after hip joint reduction in the hospital.During the surgery,K-L approach was adopted without cutting the short external rotator muscles of hip.Operation duration and intraoperative bleeding were recorded.Visual analogue score (VAS) was recorded before and after operation.The X-ray at 1 day,6 weeks,3 months and 1 year after operation were reviewed to evaluate fracture healing time.Matta criteria were used to assess the surface flatness of joint.The modified Merle d'Aubigné-Postel scoring system was applied to evaluate the function of hip joint.Intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded.Results The operation duration was 76-120 min (mean,94 min),and the intraoperative blood loss was 120-320 ml (mean,265 ml).All patients were followed up for average 16 months (range,10-24 months).Preoperative VAS was 5-10 points [(7.5 ± 1.3) points],and 0-3 points [(0.9 ± 0.8) points] 6 months after operation (P ＜ 0.01).All fractures healed and the average healing duration was 10.1 weeks (range,6-12 weeks).According to the Matta criteria,24 patients were graded excellent and 4 good,with excellence rate of 100％.According to the modified Merle d'Aubigné-Postel grading system,clinical results were graded excellent in 23 patients,good in 5,with excellence rate of 100％.Transient sciatic nerve injury occurred in 3 patients after surgery,and the nerve function of these patients fully recovered within 3 months after operation.There were no infection,heterotopic ossification and other complications.The wound healing was good,without liquefaction or cracking.Sciatic nerve injury was found in five patients,three of whom were performed with a transient lesion and recovered within 3 months.Conclusion In the posterior pathway surgery for acetabular posterior column fractures,the K-L approach without cutting the short external rotator muscles of hip can be used to complete the internal fixation with a high rate of fracture healing,sound reduction outcome,satisfactory functional recovery and few complications.

Objective To explore the application of micro screws in holistic management of comminuted fracture of posterior acetabular wall combined with posterior hip dislocation.Methods From October 2013 to March 2016,38 patients (38 hips) were managed for comminuted fracture of posterior acetabular wall combined with posterior hip dislocation.They were 29 males and 9 females,aged from 15 to 71 years (average,38.6 years).According to the Letournel-Judet classification,there were 35 simple fractures of posterior acetabular wall and 3 complex fractures (2 fractures of posterior column plus posterior wall and one transverse plus posterior wall fracture).All fractures were comminuted and involved the posterior wall.The posterior Kocher-Langenbeck approach was selected for all the patients.Intraoperative exploration revealed the comminuted posterior walls were complicated with broken acetabular rims and ruptured glenoid rims to various degrees.Micro screws or micro screw-plate system were used to repair the comminuted fractures and broken acetabular rims,bridge support fixation with a locking plate followed pelvic reconstruction,and at the same time the ruptured glenoid rims were sutured so that the whole posterior articular structure around the posterior wall was repaired and reconstructed in a holistic manner.Results All the 38 patients were followed up for 12 to 36 months (average,17.6 months).By the Matta assessment,the reduction was excellent in 36 cases and fine in 2,giving an excellent to good rate of 100％.All fractures got united after 9 to 14 weeks (average,10.2 weeks).By the improved Merle d'Aubigne & Postel criteria,the clinical outcome was excellent in 35 cases and good in 3,giving an excellent to good rate of 100％.After surgery,heterotopic ossification occurred in one case,and transient paralysis of the sciatic nerve in 3 cases.No infection,necrosis of the femoral head,joint pain,joint malfunction or unstable walking was observed.Conclusion In the management of comminuted fracture of posterior acetabular wall combined with posterior hip dislocation,the lesions of the whole posterior wall can be repaired primarily in a holistic manner by repairing the shattered posterior wall of the acetabulum wth micro plate and screw system and simultaneous suture and fixation of the broken actabular rim and ruptured glenoid rim.

Objective To investigate effectiveness of the modified Kocher-Langenbeck (K-L) approach for acetabular fractures.Methods A consecutive series of 58 patients with acetabular fracture were treated operatively from January 2013 to December 2016.They were divided into 2 groups according to the approaches used.In the experimental group of 30 patients (25 males and 5 females with an average age of 42.6 ± 13.8 years),the modified K-L approach was used not to dissect the external rotation short muscles and the anterior approach was also used when necessary.In the control group of 28 patients (24 males and 4 females with an average age of 45.2 ± 10.2 years),the traditional K-L approach was used and in combination with the anterior approach when necessary.The 2 groups were comnpared in terms of operation time,intraoperative blood loss,reduction,fracture union time and functional recovery of the affected hip at the last follow-up.Results The experimental group reported significantly shorter operation time (94.2 ± 32.8 min) and significantly less intraoperative bleeding (220.8 ± 96.7 mL) than the control group (135.8 ± 88.0 min and 405.5 ±95.7 mL) (P ＜ 0.05).According to the Matta's criteria for reduction,the experimental group had 24 excellent,4 good and 2 fair cases (an excellent to good rate of 93.3％) while the control group had 20 excellent,3 good and 5 fair cases (an excellent to good rate of 82.1％),showing no significant differences between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).All the 58 patients obtained follow-up for 6 to 24 months (average,16 months).The fracture union time was 10.1 ± 1.9 weeks for the experimental group and 9.9 ±2.1 weeks for the control group,showing no significant differences between the 2 groups (P ＞ 0.05).According to the modified Merle d'Aubigne & Postel scoring for the functional recovery of the affected hip at the last follow-up,the experimental group had 23 excellent,5 good and 2 fair cases (an excellent to good rate of 93.3％) while the control group had 12 excellent,6 good,6 fair and 4 poor cases (an excellent to good rate of 64.2％),showing a significant difference between the 2 groups (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Compared with the traditional K-L approach,the modified K-L approach has advantages of small trauma,less hemorrhage and good postoperative recovery so that it can be a good choice among the posterior approaches for acetabular fractures.

Objective To explore the efficacy of temporary titanium plate screwing for positional maintenance in reduction and internal fixation for displaced acetabular fractures.Methods A retrospective study was conducted of the 28 patients (28 hips) with displaced acetabular fracture who had been treated by open reduction and internal fixation from October 2013 to March 2016.They were 20 males and 8 females,aged from 24 to 68 years (average,42.3 years).The time from injury to surgery ranged from 7 to 21 days(average,14.5 days).According to the Letournel-Judet classification,there were 2 posterior column fractures,4 transverse fractures,5 posterior column plus posterior wall fractures,6 transverse plus posterior wall fractures,2 T-shaped fractures,3 anterior and posterior transverse fractures and 6 double column fractures.The posterior acetabular approach or combined anterior and posterior approach was used.In all the patients temporary titanium plate screwing was conducted to fix one side of the fracture so as to facilitate accomplishment of open reduction and internal fixation without losing the indirect anatomic reduction of the intraarticular fracture.After the open reduction and internal fixation was accomplished,the temporary screw fixation was removed in 26 patients but retained in 2 patients as needed.The reduction quality,complications and outcomes at the final follow-ups were recorded.Results All the 28 patients were followed up for 10 to 36 months (mean,15.6 months).By the Matta criteria,anatomical reduction was achieved in 26 cases,unsatisfactory reduction in one and poor reduction in one,yielding an anatomic reduction rate of 92.9％.By the improved Mere d'Aubigne & Postel criteria,the clinical outcomes at the final follow-up were excellent in 27 cases and good in one,yielding a good to excellent rate of 100％.Postoperatively,heterotopic ossification of different severities occurred in 11 cases but did not affect their joint function;transient paralysis of the sciatic nerve was reported in 6 cases but recovered 3 months after surgery.No complications like avascular necrosis of the femoral head or walking pain were observed during follow-ups.Conclusion Temporary fixation with titanium plate screws during open reduction and internal fixation for displaced acetabular fractures can effectively improve the reduction and fixation of the articular surface,leading to satisfactory short-term clinical outcomes.