Preventing complications during acetabular fracture surgery, a review.

Complications after acetabular fracture surgery include: hemorrhage, nerve injury, infection, malreduction, heterotopic ossification, post-traumatic arthritis, and medical complications may reach an incidence of 30-50 %. Total hip arthroplasty can salvage a poor reduction or post-traumatic arthritis but has higher complication rates then a primary replacement and in many cases may have to last 50 years. Sciatic nerve palsy, which is often caused by the injury, and infection/osteomyelitis, which is often caused by the surgical intervention, result in universally poor outcomes and every effort should be aimed at avoiding these. Methods of avoiding complications and treatment once they occur are discussed.