title: The surgical treatment of inveterate fractures of the acetabulum.
abstract: Any fracture of the acetabulum which is not adequately treated within 3 weeks poses a considerable surgical problem. Reduction is difficult, callus has already begun to form between the displaced fragments, and the risks of complications are therefore increased. Our material consists of 35 cases, subdivided into 18 fractures submitted for treatment between 3 and 12 weeks after injury, and 17 fractures submitted for treatment beyond the 12 week limit. In the first group the incidence of complications (ischaemic necrosis, arthrosis, infection) was high; satisfactory results were obtained only when the fracture was of the simplest type. In the second group, malunion had to be accepted, and treatment was concerned solely with improving function by correcting malposition and relieving or eliminating pain. The surgical methods adopted depended on the circumstances: corrective osteotomy, arthrodesis or total prosthetic replacement.
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000293:injuries*; D001174:Arthrodesis; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010027:Osteotomy; D013997:Time Factors