title: Acetabular fractures before and after the introduction of seatbelt legislation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the incidence and severity of acetabular fractures and associated injuries before and after seatbelt legislation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two major trauma centres, which are teaching hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and ninety-three patients who sustained acetabular fractures during the 5 years before and 5 years after seatbelt legislation was enacted. Of these, the fractures in 198 patients (50.4%) resulted from a motor vehicle accident.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number and severity of acetabular fractures and associated injuries.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There has been a significant reduction in the number of acetabular fractures (p = 0.005) since seatbelt use became mandatory, and the complexity of the fractures has decreased. There has also been a marked reduction in associated injuries, such as fractures of other bones, and head, chest and abdominal injuries (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The seatbelt law has been a useful preventive measure, resulting in a reduction in the incidence of acetabular fractures and associated injuries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: al-Qahtani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000293:injuries*; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012622:Seat Belts / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014193:Trauma Centers