Acetabular Fractures

Abstract

Acetabular fractures should be treated urgently and are usually high-energy injuries. Standard ATLS protocol must be followed in order to rule out concomitant injury as these may be life threatening. Fractures are generally broken up into simple fractures and associated fractures. Acetabular fractures may be treated operatively or nonoperatively depending on radiographic criteria and medical status of the patient. It is important to recognize the potential complications that may occur and attempt to minimize these occurrences to achieve the best outcome (Rockwood et al. Rockwood and green’s fractures in adults. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001; Porter et al. J Orthop Trauma 22:165–70, 2008; Egol et al. Handbook of fractures. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010; Letrounel and Judet Fractures of the acetabulum. Heidelsberg: Springer-Verlag, 1993; Tile et al. Fractures of the pelvis and acetabulum. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2003).