Relevancy factor analysis on the choice of operative approaches for different acetabular fractures

[Objective]To study the surgical technique for the treatment of acetabular fractures.[Method]Retrospective analysis on consecutive acetabular fractures operatively treated at our hospital from January 1995 to March 2005 was made to find out the correlation factors influenced on the operative approaches.[Result]A total of 107 cases had surgery for an acetabular fracture in the meamtime.Of them,44 were exposed through a Kocher-Langenbeck approach,5 through an extended iliofemoral route,30 through an ilioinguinal or an anterior extensile approach,and 28 through a combined anterior and posterior incisions.After operation,anatomic reduction was obtained in 66 cases,good reduction in 36,incomplete reduction in 5.According to AAOS score,the satisfactory rate was 89.72% after following-up 1 to 11 years.[Conclusion]To determine reasonable surgical exposure of an acetabular fracture,the key factors are fracture type and its displacement direction,and the important reference factors include associated injuries with the fracture,operative time and complications related to different operative routes.