Surgical technique and curative effect analysis of the lateral-rectus approach for acetabular fractures combined with ipsilateral greater sciatic notch fractures / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the surgical technique and clinical results of the lateral-rectus approach (LRA) for acetabular fractures combined with ipsilateral greater sciatic notch fractures.Methods:Nine cases of acetabular fractures combined with ipsilateral greater sciatic notch fractures treated by the LRA from January 2015 to January 2021 were involved in this study, including 7 males and 2 females with age of 39.8±15.4 years (range, 25-54 years). Six cases were injured by falling and the others by traffic accidents. There were 3 cases combined with pelvic fractures, 1 combined with craniocerebral injury, 3 combined with thoracic injury, 2 combined with closed abdominal injury, and 3 combined with other fractures of the extremities. Based on the Letournel-Judet classification, the cases were all classified as double-column acetabular fractures. The fractures of the greater sciatic notch are all fractures with obvious displacement from the lower part of the sacroiliac joint through the top of the greater sciatic notch to the posterior column of the acetabulum. Pelvic X-ray and CT examination were performed after operation. The reduction quality of the acetabulum and greater sciatic foramen was evaluated by Matta's criteria. The function of the hip joint was assessed by modified Merle D'Aubigné-Postel score.Results:All 9 patients were successfully completed the operation, and followed up. The operation time was 140.4±55.2 min (range, 110-190 min). The amount of intraoperative blood loss was 770.5±430.9 ml (range, 540-1,260 ml). All cases of fractures had healed in 7.7±3.4 weeks (range, 6-12 weeks) after operation. According to Matta's reduction quality criteria, the quality of fracture reduction after surgery was excellent in 7 cases and good in 2 cases. The follow-up period was 24.8±8.8 months (range, 6-12 months). Fractures of the acetabulum and greater sciatic foramen healed well, with the healing time of 6 to 12 weeks. There were no complications such as loss of fracture reduction, failure of internal fixation, traumatic arthritis or necrosis of femoral head. Matta's modified Merle d'Aubigne-Postel hip function score was 16.2±0.6 (range, 12-18) one year after surgery. There were excellent in 6 cases, good in 2 cases, fair in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 89%.Conclusion:Fractures of the acetabulum and ipsilateral greater sciatic notch are serious injuries with difficulty in surgical reduction and fixation. The LRA can better complete reduction and fixation of the above fractures, obtaining satisfactory clinical outcomes.