A Prospective Study on Functional Outcome in Patients with Associated Type of Acetabulum Fractures Treated with Open Reduction and Internal Fixation – A Single Center Study

Background and Aim: Acetabular fractures, particularly those involving associated types, pose significant challenges due to their complexity and impact on hip joint function. Commonly caused by high-energy trauma, such as road traffic accidents (RTAs), these fractures can lead to considerable morbidity if not properly treated. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is the preferred approach for achieving stable fracture fixation and restoring joint function. Materials and Methods: This study evaluated the functional outcomes of 30 patients with associated acetabular fractures treated with ORIF at Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Bangalore, over 1.5 years (September 2021 to March 2024). Patients, aged 18–71 years, were predominantly male (86.7%), with 90% of injuries resulting from RTAs. Fracture patterns included transverse with posterior wall (36.7%), anterior column with posterior hemitransverse (26.7%), and bicolumnar fractures (26.7%). Postoperative management involved a strict mobilization protocol, with full weight-bearing allowed between the 14 th and 18 th week in 80% of cases. Complications included heterotrophic ossification (10%), sciatic nerve palsy (6.7%), avascular necrosis (3.3%), and infection (3.3%). Results: At the final follow-up after 18 months, functional outcomes were assessed using the Harris Hip Scoring System. Excellent outcomes were achieved in 83.3% of patients, with 6.7% achieving good or fair results, and 3.3% showing poor outcomes. Poor results were attributed to the severity of the injury and surgical factors. Conclusion: This study shows that ORIF yields excellent functional outcomes for associated acetabular fractures with proper preoperative planning and assessment. Our findings are consistent with similar studies, reinforcing ORIF as the optimal treatment for these fractures.