Predictors of the Quality of Surgical Reduction and Long-term Outcome

Plain-language summary

Acetabulum fractures are complex, relatively rare lesions linked to a more or less good functional prognosis and therefore represent a real surgical challenge. In the literature, it is accepted that surgical delay, among other things, negatively impacts the quality of surgical reduction. However, this reduction must be a major priority since it is one of the factors conditioning the functional result. In our study, we wish to analyze a particular type of fracture, less studied, or with small series, that are the transverse fractures (+/- posterior wall), known for their difficulty of reduction. The reduction is even greater as the fracture line often passes through the acetabular bearing zone, compromising the functional prognosis. The choice of surgical approach for this type of fracture is controversial. More and more, a single approach, usually posterior, without compulsory fixation of the anterior component of the transverse fracture is preferred over the traditional double approach anterior and posterior, and this in particular to reduce the morbidity of this surgery. But this one-size-fits-all approach does not always achieve a good reduction and it is believed that the time to surgery may play a role. If it is accepted that the surgical delay before reduction in osteosynthesis of an acetabular fracture is involved in the quality of the reduction and therefore the functional result in these patients, the question asked is whether this delay should condition the choice of a double approach, anterior and posterior, for this type of fracture (transverse +/- posterior wall). Indeed, with increasing surgical time, the risk of scar tissue formation and early callus increases, making bone fragments less mobile, reduction more difficult and indirect reduction techniques (which are used when single approach is chosen) less efficient. In addition, most of the studies evaluating the quality of reduction of acetabular fractures use a radiographic score, that of Matta. However, it has been shown that the CT scan was more efficient than the x-rays in detecting a residual displacement of the fracture. Also, in this study, we want to analyze the quality of reduction thanks to the scanner, which is rarely done in the literature. This work aims to determine the predictive factors of the quality of reduction of transverse fractures +/- posterior wall of the acetabulum, evaluated on the postoperative CT scan.

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