Acetabulum Fracture
Search strategy[edit | edit source]
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Key words: acetabulum fracture, mobilization, physiotherapy, post operative treatment.
Clinical relevant anatomy[edit | edit source]
The acetabulum is formed by an anterior and a posterior column of the bone.
The posterior column; which extends from the ischiopubic ramus up to the ilium, including the greater and lesser sciatic notch, most of the quadrilateral plate and ischial tuberosity .
Then we have the anterior column; which comprises the superior pubic ramus , the entire pelvic brim, the anterior wall of the os coxae and the iliac wing.
The socket is thus a fusion of iliuum, ischium and pubis. [3]
Epidemiology[edit | edit source]
Acetabulum fractures are less common and occur with an incidence of about three per 100.000 population. [6]An acetabular fracture is mostly caused by a traumatic accident, such as a motor vehicle or a bad fall, and affects often the younger population. These kind of fractures are uncommon in elderly patients, but lately the number is increasing. The osteoporosis of the bone makes the bone vulnerable and can cause an acetabulum fracture from a simple low fall.
A fracture of the acetabulum can be associated with late morbidity referable to the development of osteoarthritis. [5] [7]
The force exerted by this high impact fall drives the femoral head into the acetabulum like a hammer.
For this reason, other musculoskeletal injuries can’t be overlooked, f.e. fractures of the knee and sciatic nerve lesion are possible co-injuries. Also the damage to the articular surface must be suspected. [9]
Diagnostic procedures
