OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to review epidemiological aspects of displacement fractures of the acetabulum treated surgically at the Instituto Nacional de Traumatologia e Ortopoedia (INTO). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 126 acetabulum fractures treated surgically at the INTO in the period from March 2006 to November 2008. The following elements were taken in account: age, sex, mechanism of injury, classification, time elapsed between trauma and surgery, affected side, associated bone injuries. RESULTS: 76.8% were male, the mean age was 39.6 years. 59% of the traumas were due to traffic accidents; time between injury and surgery was on average 16.4 days; 55% of cases were on the right side; 30% of patients had associated fractures. CONCLUSION: Most patients are male, in an economically active age group, and are victims of traffic accidents. Fractures of edge and/or posterior column are the most frequent. Associated injuries are common and most of the fractures operated in our service are delayed.
Acetabulum; Fractures, Bone; Epide-miology; Wounds and Injuries
