Acetabular fractures in the elderly treated with a primary Burch-Schneider reinforcement ring, autologous bone graft, and a total hip arthroplasty: a prospective study with a 4-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the clinical and radiologic outcomes in elderly patients suffering from an acetabular fracture operated with an acute primary acetabular reinforcement ring, autologous bone graft, and a total hip arthroplasty (THA).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary care university hospital.

PATIENTS: Fifteen elderly patients (7 women) with a mean age of 76 years and a displaced acetabular fracture after a low-energy trauma were included. The fractures involved the anterior column, but no patients with associated both column fractures were included. All the patients were able to walk independently before the fracture occurred.

INTERVENTION: Primary operation with a Burch-Schneider reinforcement ring, autologous bone graft, and a THA.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The patients were reviewed at 4, 12, 24, and 48 months after the fracture occurred. The outcome assessments included complications, reoperations, activity of daily living function, functional scores (Harris hip score and short musculoskeletal function assessment), health-related quality of life [EuroQol (EQ-5D) index score], and radiologic evaluation.

RESULTS

There were no prosthetic dislocations, periprosthetic fractures, deep infections, or other adverse events. There were no radiologic signs of loosening of the reinforcement ring or the prosthesis components at any of the follow up sessions, and the autologous bone graft was well incorporated in all the patients at the final follow-up. At 48 months, the mean Harris hip score was 88, the mean short musculoskeletal function assessment dysfunction score was 30, the bother score was 25, and the mean EQ-5D index score was 0.65. All the patients were able to walk independently at the final follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of displaced anterior column, anterior column posterior hemitransverse and transverse acetabular fractures in elderly patients using a primary reinforcement ring, autologous bone graft, and a THA seems to be a safe option with good functional and radiologic outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.