8. Mechanism of Injury
• Impact of the femoral head with the acetabular articular surface
• Greater trochanter(direct trauma along the axis of the femoral neck)
• Anywhere along the long axis of the femoral shaft(Indirect trauma
dashboard injury)
9. Clinical evaluation
• ATLS protocol- High energy trauma
• Neurovascular assessment:
• Sciatic nerve injury may be present in up to 40% of posterior column disruptions.
• Associated ipsilateral injuries must be ruled out: ipsilateral knee
instability and patellar fractures
• Soft tissue injuries (e.g., abrasions, contusions
subcutaneous hemorrhage)
10. Imaging
• X-Rays
• Standard AP view
• Judet Views
45 degree obturator oblique view
45 degree iliac oblique view
• Pelvic inlet and outlet view
• CT scan
11. Radiographic Evaluation
• AP pelvic view
• Judet views
1. Iliopectineal line beginning at
greater sciaticnotch of ilium and
extending down to pubic
tubercle.
2. Ilioischial line formed by
posterior four fifths of
quadrilateral surface of ilium.
3. Radiographic teardrop composed
laterally of most inferior and
anterior portion of acetabulum
and medially of anterior flat part
of quadrilateral surface of iliac
bone.
4. Roof of acetabulum.
5. Edge of anterior lip of
acetabulum.
6. Edge of posterior lip of
acetabulum.
23. Posterior column fracture
• Posterior portion of acetabulum
• Fracture line runs through greater sciatic notch and into
ischiopubic ramus
• Superior gluteal neurovascular bundles – trapped in sciatic notch.
34. Associated Both column fracture
• Weight bearing acetabulum disconnected from sciatic buttress –
Floating Acetabulum
• Columns are separated from each other
• Spur sign on obturator oblique view
• Secondary congruence
38. Treatment
Goal
• Anatomic restoration of the articular surface and prevent
posttraumatic arthritis
• Early Mobilization
• Minimise associated complications .
39. Treatment
Indication of Non operative treatment
1. Non displaced and minimally displaced fracture
• Fracture traversing wt bearing Dome and <2mm displaced –NWBM x 6-12
wks
• Periodic radiograph to ensure no displacement
2. Significant displacement in region of joint that is judged to be
unimportant significantly
• Roof arc measurement ARA- 25 degree, MRA- 45 degree, PRA- 70 degree
40. Roof Arc Measurement
To find the amount of INTACT
acetabular roof/ weight bearing
dome to decide treatment
1. Medial Roof Arc (AP pelvis)
2. Anterior Roof Arc (Obturator
oblique)
3. Posterior Roof Arc (Iliac
oblique)
According to Matta et al., if any of the roof arc measurements
in a displaced fracture are less than 45 degrees, operative
treatment should be considered.
41. Treatment
Indication of Non operative treatment
3. Secondary congruency in displaced both column fractures
4. Medical Contraindications to surgery
• Skeletal traction
• Percutaneous fluoroscopic screw fixation
42. Treatment
Indication of Non operative treatment
5. Local soft tissue problems- Infection, wounds, Morel-Lavallee lesion
6. Elderly patients with osteoperotic bone in whom open reduction
may not be feasible
43. Treatment
Indications for Operative treatment
1. Fracture characteristics
• >= 2mm displacement
• Roof Arc measurement < 45 degrees
• Fracture subluxation
• Posterior Wall fracture >50% involvement of posterior wall articular surface
2. Incarcerated fragments in acetabulum after CR of hip dislocation
3. Prevention of nonunion and retention of sufficient bone stock for
later reconstructive surgery
44. Timing of surgery
• Urgent surgical intervention associated with acetabular fracture
• Irreducible hip
• Open fracture
• Vascular compromise
• Neurological deficit
• Ideally ORIF acetabular fracture : 5-7 days of injury (Campbell- 13th
ed)
• Less bleeding
• Anatomical reduction difficult after 5 days in associated and 15 days in
elementary patterns
45. Surgical approach to acetabulum fracture
• Posterior
• Kocher- Langenbeck approach
• Modified Gibson approach
• Anterior
• Ilioinguinal (lateral, middle, medial
windows)
• Iliofemoral approach
• Stoppa (medial window)/Anterior
intrapelvic approach
• Extensile approach
• Extended iliofemoral approach
• Triradiate approach
No single approach provides ideal exposure of all fracture types.
Proper preoperative classification of the fracture configuration is essential to selecting
the best surgical approach.
53. Pitfalls & Challenges
1. Avoid excessive traction.
2. Make sure that the horizontal limb of the incision is not too posterior. This will
help to prevent accidental injury to the sciatic nerve when the fascia is incised
distally.
3. Make sure that the piriformis and conjoined tendons are released from their
trochanteric insertion without compromising the vascular supply of the
femoral head.
4. Dissect very carefully at the supra-acetabular area to avoid injury to the gluteal
neurovascular bundle.
5. Avoid dissection close to the acetabular rim in order to preserve its vascular
supply.
6. Always identify the lesser sciatic notch. This is a safe area for sciatic nerve
retractor placement.
54. Ilioinguinal Approach: Indication
• Anterior wall acetabular fractures.
• Anterior column acetabular fractures.
• Transverse acetabular fractures with
the major displacement occurring at
the anterior column.
• Both-column acetabular fractures.
• Anterior element reduction and
fixation in T-type acetabular fractures.
• High transverse fracture
55. Three windows of the ilioinguinal approach
• Lateral to iliopsoas
• Between iliopsoas and
femoral nerves and vessels
• Medial to femoral vessels
57. Other approaches
• Stoppa approach (supine):
• Allows access to the medial wall
of acetabulum, quadrilateral
surface, & sacroiliac joint,
corona mortis at risk.
61. Extended Iliofemoral approach
• exposes the entire lateral
innominate bone, by posterior
reflection of the abductors, and
reflection of short external
rotators.
• It can be extended anteriorly
into the first (iliac) window of
the ilioinguinal incision.
62. Extended Iliofemoral approach- Indications
• Transtectal transverse + posterior wall or T-shaped fractures
• Transverse fractures with extended posterior wall
• T-shaped fractures with wide separations of the vertical stem of the
‘T’ or those with associated pubic symphysis dislocations
• Both column fracture
• Associated fracture patterns or transverse
fractures operated on>21 days following injury
highest incidence of ectopic bone formation (HO)
and longest postoperative recovery
63. • Triradiate approach (prone):
• Alternate exposure to the external
aspect of innominate bone, with
almost same exposure as
iliofemoral but visualization of the
posterior part of ilium is not as
good
• Complication:
• Superior gluteal vessel injury
• Massive ischemic necrosis of hip
abductors
64. Fracture fixation
• Plates
• 3.5 mm and 4.5 mm recon plates
• Screws
• 6.5-mm cancellous lag screws with
buttress plate
• 4.0-mm cancellous lag screws and
3.5 mm cortical screws (lengths up
to 120 mm)
• 6.5-mm fully threaded cancellous
screws
Great care should be taken to ensure that screws in the central portion of the plate
do not penetrate the articular cartilage of the acetabulum
69. Percutanous Anterior column screw fixation
• Antegrade
• Bone narrowing at center of
acetabulum and middle of pubis
ramus
• Retrograde
• In out in technique
74. Take Home Messages
• Acetabular fracture is an intraarticular fracture requiring anatomical
reduction, rigid fixation and early mobilization
• Classification of acetabular fracture guide the surgeon for best
approach
• Fracture demanding experts for fixation
incomplete hemispherical socket with an inverted horseshoe-shaped articular surface surrounding the nonarticular cotyloid fossa
Clinical anatomy showing neurovascular relation in pelvis . I would like to emphasize in corona mortise
So what to look in X ray
There are 6 lines that has to be considered for the classification of the fracture and hence guide the management and surgical approach.
obturator oblique view is seen With 45 degree int rotation of pelvis that is affected side is up
No change in classification since 1964 based on 3 radiographic views
Postero superior- part of roof separated
Post inf – confined below roof , detached frag inf horn of articular surface, sub cotyloid groove and superior ischium
Column fracture has transverse orientation
Transverse fracture AP orientation
Accurate interpretation of radiograph and classification of fracture determines the surgical approach to acetabulum
angle between vertical line through femoral head and line through fracture helps to define fracture pattern stability
In cases of extreme deformity , THR
Anatomical reduction difficult after a week coz hematoma organizn, soft tissue contracture, early callus hinders
Here the structure shown in blue color are directly visualized through kl approach
Medial aspect of acetabular fossa is quadrilateral plate that can be palpated by finger insunating from greater sciatic notch
3. Superficial surgical dissection The gluteus maximus muscle (using scissors)
The iliotibial tract (using a scalpel)
Detach the gluteus maximus 1 cm from its insertion into the gluteal tuberosity of the femur.
4 Detach the external rotator muscles
5. Expose posterior wall and column
6. Quadratus femoris elevation for additional caudal exposure
adv: hip abductor musculature is left undisturbed and rapid post op rehab possible
Dis : articular surface of acetabulum is not exposed
Incision middle of iliac crest , ant to asis and distally along medial border of Sartorius to medial 3rd of thigh
longitudinal incision beginning at the iliac crest, continuing it over the greater trochanter and down the lateral thigh as far as necessary
Designed to allow later reconstructive procedures
Provides exposure for repair of complex and both column fractures
Posterior column corridor
Obturator oblique view in side ischium
Iliac oblique to confirm outside joint
Bicolumnar fracture – high and middle ant column fracture with pregnancy at 18 wog
2 LC ii screw to fix high ant column fracture extending to post column
Along with ant column and wall fixation