Comparing outcomes of acetabular fracture fixation in early career versus experienced orthopaedic trauma surgeons.

BACKGROUND

The goal of this study was to compare clinical and functional outcomes of acetabular fractures treated with open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) by orthopaedic trauma fellowship-trained surgeons in their first 5 years of practice with their more experienced counterparts.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed patients with acetabular fractures treated with ORIF at our level I trauma center from 2018 to 2021. Inclusion criteria included patients 18 years or older with an acetabular fracture treated with ORIF by an early career orthopaedic trauma surgeon in their first 5 years of practice or by a more experienced partner at least 10 years into practice. The primary outcome was fracture reduction quality. Secondary outcomes were operative time, estimated blood loss, reoperations, perioperative 30-day mortality, native hip survivorship, and HOOS JR scores at 1 year.

RESULTS

Ninety-nine patients with 100 acetabular fractures were included. The average age was 51.3 ± 19.5 years. Seventy-six percent were male. Sixty-six fractures were treated by early career surgeons, 33 were treated by later career surgeons. The 2 groups were similar in patient demographics, fracture characteristics, operative time, estimated blood loss, reoperation, 30-day mortality, native hip survivorship, and HOOS JR scores. There were no differences in reduction grade between groups (82% vs 90% grade A/B in the early career and later career groups, respectively, P = 0.38). Early career surgeons used postoperative computed tomography significantly more than experienced surgeons.

CONCLUSIONS

Reassuringly, patients with acetabular fractures treated with ORIF by early career surgeons demonstrate comparable outcomes with those treated by more experienced surgeons.