Abstract
Introduction
Acetabular fractures management is controversial since, despite a good anatomical reduction, clinical outcome is not satisfactory very often and the probability of a total hip arthroplasty (THA) is high. Surgical treatment include long operating times, large approach, blood loss, neural and muscle damage, and a high risk of failure and secondary osteoarthritis related to bone necrosis, cartilage damage, and bone loss.
We hypothesized that the acetabular fracture management affected the clinical and radiological outcome of THA after posttraumatic arthritis.
Materials and Methods
We compared 49 patients (49 hips) initially treated conservatively followed some months later by THA in conjunction with acetabular reconstruction (group 1); and 29 patients (29 hips) who had undergone THA after a failed osteosynthesis (group 2). There were more associated fractures according to Letournel in group 2. The mean age was 59.3±15.8 years for group 1 and 52.9±15.2 years for group 2. The mean delay between fracture and THA was 75.4±5 months for group 1 and 59.4±5 for group 2. The mean follow-up was 11.7 in group 1 and 10.2 in group 2. Preoperative bone defect was similar. We used bone autograft in 13 hips (26.5%) in group 1 and four (13.6%) in group 2. We used acetabular reconstruction plates in 2 hips with a pelvic discontinuity in group 1. Complications, clinical outcome according to Harris Hip Score, and radiological reconstruction were compared. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures were used for comparison.
Results
There were 5 cups revised for aseptic loosening in group 1 and 2 in group 2. The cumulative probability of not having a cup revision at 16 years was 90.6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 78,1 to 100) for group 1 and 94.1% (95% CI 86.5 to 100) for group 2 (p=0.76). There were 4 sciatic palsies in group 2, 4 of which developed after trauma and 2 after osteosynthesis. There were no infections. Although pre-operative clinical score was better in group 1, post-operatively at latest follow-up there were no differences. The radiological reconstruction was better in group 1 for version angle (p=0.03) and abductor lever arm (p=0.02). The change from the pre- to post-operative situation was greater in group 2 for the latter (Delta value, p=0.002). The rate of post-operative heterotopic ossifications was greater in group 2 (p=0.04)
Conclusions
Long-term clinical and radiograph results are good in patients who underwent THA after a complex acetabular fracture, however, primary THA in conjunction with acetabular reconstruction had a lower number of complications and a better radiographic acetabular reconstruction than a THA after failed osteosynthesis.
