Outcome 5 years after surgical treatment of acetabular fractures: a prospective clinical and radiographic follow-up of 101 patients

Abstract

Introduction

The aim of this study was to evaluate functional outcome after surgically treated acetabular fracture using radiography and patient-reported outcome measures, and to determine predictors of hip joint failure 5 years post-surgery.

Patients and methods

All patients with acetabular fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) at our unit are prospectively entered into a local register. 101 acetabular fractures in 112 patients treated from 2004 to 2007 were eligible for analysis 5 years after surgery. Radiographs and questionnaires regarding physical function (Short Form[SF]-36) and pelvic discomfort index (PDI, 100 % = worst outcome) were obtained. The primary outcome measure was “joint failure” defined as either secondary total hip arthroplasty (THA) or a Girdlestone situation. Univariable analysis was used to compare patients with joint failure to those without, and binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors of joint failure.

Results

77 % of 101 followed patients had a preserved hip joint 5 years after surgery, and failure of the hip joint most often occurred within the first 2 years after injury. Patients with preserved hip joints had higher scores in the SF-36 physical function domain (median 75 vs. 48; p = 0.004) and better PDI (28 vs. 43 %, p = 0.03). Femoral head impaction was associated with an increased risk of joint failure [relative risk (RR) = 15.2, 95 % CI 3–95; p = 0.002], as was an age of ≥60 years at the time of injury (RR = 4.2, CI 1.3–15; p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Patients with failed hip joints after surgery for acetabular fracture have inferior global and disease-specific functional outcomes, even after secondary arthroplasty surgery. We suggest that patients with predictors of joint failure could benefit from other treatment strategies than ORIF, and primary insertion of THA may be an alternative treatment strategy for this subgroup.