BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate outcome following a single lateral rectus abdominis surgical approach for complicated acetabular fractures, involving anterior and posterior columns.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: From January 2012 to March 2016, 59 patients, including 36 anterior column hemitransverse fractures, 18 two-column fractures, and five T-type complicated acetabular fractures, were treated with a single lateral rectus abdominis approach and fixed by plates and cannulated lag screws. Anterior column fractures were fixed with 3.5 mm reconstruction plates; posterior column fractures were fixed with 6.5 mm cannulated lag screws. The quality of surgical reduction (using the Matta criteria), functional outcome (using the modified Merle d’Aubigné and Postel scoring system), and postoperative complications were assessed with 24-month follow-up.

RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients (mean age, 45 years; range, 18–64 years) including 39 men and 20 women underwent surgery. Mean intraoperative blood loss was 514.6 ml (range, 150–830 ml) and mean operating time was 86.3 min (range, 42–145 min). Anatomical reduction was good in 40 cases (67.8%), fair in 15 cases (25.4%), and poor in four cases (6.8%). The modified Merle d’Aubigné score was excellent in 39 cases (66.1%), good in 14 cases (23.7%), fair in five cases (8.5%), and poor in one case (1.7%). At follow-up, there were five cases of peritoneal damage, eight cases of obturator nerve dysfunction, and four cases of postoperative traumatic arthritis.

CONCLUSIONS: The single lateral rectus abdominis surgical approach for the treatment of complicated acetabular fractures was minimally invasive with good anatomical exposure and good outcomes.

Keywords: Fractures, Bone, Hip Fractures, Postoperative Complications