Dislocation Does Not Seem To Be an Absolute Factor Effecting the Short- to Medium-Term Poor Prognosis of Patients with Acetabular Posterior Wall Fracture

Abstract

Dislocation is a complication of acetabular fractures involving the posterior wall, but whether dislocation is an absolute factor impacting the short- to medium-term prognosis of the hip joint remains controversial. This study aimed to compare the short- to medium-term clinical and radiological results among patients diagnosed with an acetabular fracture involving the posterior wall, with or without dislocation.Seventy-nine patients diagnosed with an acetabular fracture involving the posterior wall were retrospectively divided into posterior dislocation and non-dislocation groups. All fractures were open reduction + internal fixation with a plate screw combination through the single Kocher-Langenbeck approach. The short- to medium-term radiographic outcomes of follow-up were evaluated using the Matta radiologic grading system, while the clinical outcomes were evaluated using the modified Merle d’Aubigné-Postel evaluation system.The mean follow-up duration for all patients was 43.90 (range 24–75) months. Both groups achieved similar short- to medium-term clinical and radiographic results. There seems to be no significant differences between the two groups regarding the short- to medium-term assessment of clinical and radiographic results and the occurrence of postoperative complications (p > 0.05).In patients with acetabular fractures involving the posterior wall, hip dislocation is probably not an absolute determinant of a poor outcome. Even with early reduction, the short- to medium-term prognosis results appear similar to those of patients without dislocation.