The trifecta approach: a staged alternative to the extended iliofemoral approach for complex acetabular fractures—technique and case report

The ilioinguinal, anterior intrapelvic (modified Stoppa), and Kocher-Langenbeck approaches are mainstays of acetabular fracture surgery. For select patterns involving the sciatic buttress or inferior sacroiliac joint, an extended iliofemoral approach is sometimes required but carries significant morbidity. This case report introduces a novel, staged combination of exposures—the “Trifecta Approach”—that is designed to provide staged circumferential access while potentially reducing soft-tissue morbidity. Clinical and radiographic outcomes suggest that this technique may serve as a viable alternative to the extended iliofemoral in appropriately selected patients.