Objective To investigate the surgical treatment effectiveness of acetabular transverse and posterior wall fractures by Kocher-Langenbeck approach. Methods Between January 2002 and February 2009, 17 patients with acetabulartransverse and posterior wall fractures were treated with Kocher-Langenbeck approach and fracture reduction and fixation. There were 12 males and 5 females with an average age of 33.4 years (range, 20-65 years). The disease causes were traffic accident in 16 cases and fall ing from height in 1 case. The disease duration was 6 hours to 11 days. According to Letournel classification, all fractures were rated as acetabular transverse and posterior wall fractures. Concomitant injuries included posterior hi p dislocation in 3 cases, fracture of extremities in 8 cases, injury of sciatic nerve in 3 cases, craniocerebral injury in 1 case, and l ienal rupture in 1 case. Results The incisions healed primarily and no compl ication of infection and deep venous thrombosis occurred after operation. All patients were followed up 12 to 36 months with an average of 19 months. The X-ray films showed that fracture healed 3 to 5 months after operation. After operation, anatomic reduction was found in 9 cases, satisfactory reduction in 5 cases, and unsatisfactory reduction in 3 cases according to Matta et al criterion. According to modified grading system of Merle D’Aubigne and Postel, the results were excellent in 4 cases, good in 9, fair in 3, and poor in 1 at last follow-up with an excellent and good rate of 76.5%. The nerve function was recovered in patients with sciatic nerve injury at 12 months after symptomatic treatment. Traumatic arthritis occurred in 5 cases, avascular necrosis of the femoral head in 1, and heterotopic ossification in 5 between 9 weeks and 12 months after operation. Conclusion For acetabular transverse and posterior wall fractures, it is important to make adequate preoperative preparation, to get the imaging data, and to perform open reduction andinternal fixation with Kocher-Langenbeck approach as early as possible.
ObjectiveTo compare the biomechanical stability of acetabular transverse fracture fixed with single column locking reconstruction plate, locking reconstruction plate combined with lag screw, and double columns lag screws. MethodsAcetabular transverse fractures were established in 20 adult fresh semi-pelvis specimens, and divided into 5 groups randomly (n=4). The anterior columns were fixed with locking reconstruction plates in group A; the posterior columns were fixed with locking reconstruction plates in group B; the anterior columns were fixed with locking reconstruction plates and the posterior columns with lag screws in group C; the anterior columns were fixed with lag screws and the posterior columns with locking reconstruction plates in group D; the double columns were fixed with lag screws in group E. When loading three times weight, the longitudinal displacement of fracture fragment was measured, and the shear rigidity was calculated to compare the stability among groups. ResultsThe longitudinal displacement of groups A and B were significantly greater than that of groups C, D, and E (P<0.05), and the shear rigidity of groups A and B were significantly lower than that of groups C, D, and E (P<0.05). The longitudinal displacement of group B was significantly greater than that of group A (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found in the shear rigidity between groups A and B (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the longitudinal displacement and shear rigidity among groups C, D, and E (P>0.05). ConclusionLocking reconstruction plate combined with lag screw and double columns lag screws have similar stability, they have stronger stability than the single column locking reconstruction plate. The stability of anterior column locking reconstruction plate is better than that of the posterior column locking reconstruction plate.