title: Quality of life after operative fixation of displaced acetabular fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine quality of life (QoL) changes over time after internal fixation of acetabular fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pertains to a prospective cohort study, which was single centered.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted at the University Hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred thirty-six patients (108 men, 28 women), age 17-83 years operated for an acetabular fracture during 2004-2008 were prospectively included and followed up for 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  QoL was evaluated via Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Life Satisfaction-11 at 6, 12, and 24 months. Radiographs were evaluated according to Matta at 2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequent fracture types were posterior wall (n31), associated anterior-posterior hemitransverse (n34), and associated both column (n29). One hundred twenty-nine patients could be assessed at 2 years, 4 did not respond, and 3 had died. The patients scored lower than norms in all 8 SF-36 domains with improvement over time for Physical Function (P < 0.0001) and Role Physical (P < 0.0001). The patients with postop reduction 0-1 mm scored better (P < 0.001-0.039) in 7 domains, all except vitality (P = 0.07), when compared with patients with residual displacement of ≥2 mm. Life satisfaction did not change with time and showed lower scores than normative in 9 of 11 items. Nineteen patients had undergone total hip replacement, and the strongest predictor was acetabular or femoral head impaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QoL in surgically treated patients with displaced acetabular fracture keeps improving in physical SF-36 domains over a 2-year period although still lower than norms, and anatomical reduction results in better QoL outcome in most dimensions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Borg
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Sune
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000293:injuries*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017759:Fractures, Malunited / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult