Clinical and radiographic long term results of acetabular fractures associated with dislocations of the hip

The authors carried out a long term review of 246 cases of fracture dislocation of the hip, based on a new classification of these injuries into six types. The average follow-up was 10 years (minimum 4 years). The review was aimed at ascertaining and comparing the clinical and radiographic results in each group in relation to type of treatment, age, sex, quality of reduction and time to weight-bearing. The survey revealed discrepancies between the clinical and radiographic results that underlined the essential difference between idiopathic osteoarthritis and post-traumatic arthritis. The most important factor in reducing the incidence of ischaemic necrosis was reduction of the dislocation within 24 hours. Arthritis was more dependent on the quality of reduction than on the method of treatment used to achieve it, and was also less frequent when weight-bearing had been delayed for 60 days. The overall results were better in younger subjects.