title: The relevance of surgery in the acetabular injury management outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this article was to analyze diverse factors that affect the management outcome of the acetabular injury in different groups of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cohort of 103 patients suffering the acetabular fracture was analysed in a retrospective case-control study. The case group was comprised of 21 patients in whom the posterior acetabular wall was fractured and who were treated surgically, while the control group was formed from 82 conservatively treated patients suffering complex acetabular fracture. The appearance and rate of different complications, and the treatment overall length were observed as a measure of outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower limbs flebothrombosis and a pulmonary embolism were the most often complication in the control group of patients, but were rarely observed in surgically treated patients, in whom the management duration was considerably shorter. At a 3-year follow-up the acetabular injury management outcome in the case group was significantly better, compared to the control group of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery may improve the outcome and reduce the rate of complications and the length of treatment for the patients suffering the acetabular injury.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Osijek University School of Medicine, Clinical Hospital Centre, Josipa Huttlera 4, 31 000 Osijek, Croatia.
authors: Bruno
authors: B
authors: Splavski
authors: Ivan
authors: I
authors: Lovric
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Muzevic
authors: Kenan
authors: K
authors: Arnautovic
authors: Brano
authors: B
authors: Splavski
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged