Surgical Management among Patients with Acetabular-Pelvis Fractures in a Trauma Care Centre.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical management of pelvic and acetabular fractures due to high-energy trauma is one of the most challenging in orthopaedics. Most patients are often associated with other life-threatening injuries. Several studies demonstrated that accurate fracture reduction decreases the incidence of post-traumatic arthritis and improves functional outcomes. The aim of the study was to find out the prevalence of the surgical management among patients with acetabular-pelvis fractures in a trauma care centre.

METHODS: This is a descriptive observational study conducted at a trauma hospital from 1 September 2016 to 31 August 2020. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee. Patients with displaced fractures of the pelvis ring or acetabulum were included in the study whereas isolated pubic rami fractures and pathological fractures were excluded from the study. Operative plans were decided after radiographic X-rays and 3-dimensional reconstruction computed tomography scan evaluation. A convenience sampling method was used. The point estimate was calculated at a 95% Confidence Interval.

RESULTS: Among 136 patients with acetabular-pelvis fractures, 64 (47.06%) (38.67-55.45, 95% Confidence Interval) underwent surgical management. The average time duration from injury to surgery was 7 days. All patients were able to weight bear 3 months.

CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of surgical management among patients with pelvic-acetabular fracture was found to be similar to the other studies done in similar settings.

KEYWORDS: acetabulum; fracture fixation; pelvis.