title: Comparative study of comminuted posterior acetabular wall fracture treated with the Acetabular Tridimensional Memory Fixation System.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Posterior wall fractures are one of the most common acetabular fractures. However, only 30% of these fractures involve a single large fragment, and comminuted acetabular posterior wall fractures pose a particular surgical challenge. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes between patients who received fixation for comminuted posterior wall fracture using the Acetabular Tridimensional Memory Fixation System (ATMFS) and patients who underwent fixation with conventional screws and buttress plates (Plates group).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between April 2003 and May 2007, 196 consecutive patients who sustained a comminuted posterior wall fracture of acetabulum were treated with ATMFS or conventional screws and buttress plates. Operative time, fluoroscopy time, blood loss, and any intra-operative complications were recorded. Plain AP and lateral radiographs were obtained at all visits (Matta's criteria). Modified Merle d' Aubigne-Postel score, and Mos SF-36 score were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty patients were included in the analysis with 26 in the ATMFS group and 24 in the Plates group. The mean follow-up time was 57.5 months, ranging from 31 to 69 months. All patients had fully healed fractures at the final follow-up. There was no difference in clinical outcomes or radiological evaluations between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with comminuted posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum treated with the ATMFS or conventional screws and buttress plate techniques achieve a good surgical result. Both techniques are safe, reliable, and practical. Use of the ATMFS technique may reduce blood loss and improve rigid support to marginal bone impaction. The use ATMFS may need additional support when fractures involve the superior roof.
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, No. 168, Changhai Street, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Yuntong
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, No. 168, Changhai Street, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Xue
authors: X
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, No. 168, Changhai Street, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Tang
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, No. 168, Changhai Street, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors: Chuncai
authors: C
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, No. 168, Changhai Street, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: zone1030@gmail.com.
authors: Shuogui
authors: S
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Orthopaedics, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, No. 168, Changhai Street, Shanghai 200433, China. Electronic address: mone1030@yeah.net.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Xie
mesh_terms: D000077:Acetabulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000497:Alloys; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D018460:Fractures, Comminuted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys
keywords: Acetabulum; Posterior wall fracture; Shape-memory alloy; Treatment