How bad is a acetabular fracture?

How bad is a acetabular fracture?

Even when treated successfully, acetabular fractures can damage the smooth surface of the joint, making it more likely that arthritis will develop during recovery or even years after an injury. Over time, the articular cartilage that protects the joint wears away, leading to increasing pain and stiffness.

How long does it take for an acetabular fracture to heal?

Most people with acetabular fractures take about 4-6 months to heal. If anatomic alignment was achieved at surgery and no complications occur, patients are able to return to prior activities and function. By six weeks, patients are fairly comfortable.

When should an acetabular fracture be performed?

Generally, for acetabular fracture in patients with hip dislocation or wide displacement, surgery is performed within one week of injury.

Can an acetabular fracture heal on its own?

For older patients, even if the alignment of the joint is not perfect, fractures may be allowed to heal on their own, especially if the ball of the joint is still in the socket and relatively stable. After injury or surgery, patients must not put weight on the affected leg for up to three months.

How long does acetabular surgery take?

In general, most acetabular fractures are operated on either through the buttock (bottom) muscles, or through the groin area (between the legs). Surgery generally involves putting the pieces back where they came from and holding them there with plates and screws. Your operation should take between one and two hours.

Can a hip fracture heal without surgery?

A broken hip may also be allowed to heal without surgery. In some cases, if the hip is fractured, it may not need to be treated with surgery. For example, if the ends of the broken bone are impacted, or were pushed together due to extreme force from an accident of fall, the bone can heal naturally.

Can you walk with a acetabular fracture?

On the second day following surgery for an acetabular fracture, patients are usually able to get out of bed. Crutches must be used for eight weeks following surgery, but by 12 weeks most people are able to walk unassisted.

Why is the acetabulum important?

The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint; the round head of the femur rests in a cavity (the acetabulum) that allows free rotation of the limb.

What is life expectancy after hip fracture?

One in three adults aged 50 and over dies within 12 months of suffering a hip fracture. Older adults have a five-to-eight times higher risk of dying within the first three months of a hip fracture compared to those without a hip fracture. This increased risk of death remains for almost ten years.

What bone connects to the acetabulum?

The femur is one of the longest bones in the human body. The upper part of the thighbone consists of the femoral head, femoral neck, and greater and lesser trochanters. The head of the femur joins the pelvis (acetabulum) to form the hip joint.

What are the side effects of an acetabular fracture?

• In the early period, patients who have acetabular fractures often have associated injuries including head injuries, abdominal injuries, urologic injuries, and other musculoskeletal injuries (spine and knee are most common). These patients are at high risk of developing blood clots in the legs and pelvis.

How are open fractures of the acetabulum treated?

• Open fractures of the acetabulum are rare because the hip joint is well covered with soft tissues. When they do occur, they are usually the result of very high-energy trauma. Treatment for acetabular fractures often involves surgery to restore the normal anatomy of the hip and stabilize the hip joint.

What causes an acetabular fracture in the hip?

• Relative to hip fracture, acetabular fracture is uncommon. These fractures occur in two distinct patient populations: In younger patients, high-energy injuries cause the break, such as motor vehicle or bike accidents, or falls from significant height.

Is it uncommon for the acetabulum to break?

• The acetabulum, commonly thought of as the socket of the ball-and-socket hip joint, may break in one of 10 different pattern classifications discussed in the January 2014 issue of Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research "Classifications in Brief". Relative to hip fracture, acetabular fracture is uncommon.