Hip joint stability determined with dynamic stress fluoroscopy with the patient under general anesthesia after a posterior wall acetabular fracture is predictive of hip joint congruity, an excellent radiographic outcome, and a good-to-excellent early clinical outcome after nonoperative treatment.

No abrupt failures occurred in either plating group. Consequently, any fear of catastrophic (ie, abrupt and complete) failure of locked symphyseal plates appears to be unfounded for open-book injuries treated in patients with low bone density. However, minor loss of the symphyseal reduction was evident in all pelvises regardless of the fixation method. Therefore, locked plating of the pubic symphysis does not appear to offer any advantage over the standard unlocked technique for an AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association 61-B3.1 partially stable open-book pelvic injury pattern in osteopenic bone.

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

No abstract