Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2007 Oct;31(5):671-5.
doi: 10.1007/s00264-006-0246-0. Epub 2006 Sep 15.

Reconstruction of comminuted posterior wall fractures using the buttress technique: a review of 32 fractures

Nabil A Ebraheim  1 , Vishwas Patil, Jiayong Liu, Chris G Sanford Jr, Steven P Haman
Affiliations
Review

Reconstruction of comminuted posterior wall fractures using the buttress technique: a review of 32 fractures

Nabil A Ebraheim et al. Int Orthop. 2007 Oct.

Abstract
in English, French

Fractures of the posterior wall are the most common of the acetabular fractures. The aim of this study was to assess the medium-term results of reconstruction of comminuted posterior wall fractures of the acetabulum by using the buttress technique. This is a retrospective review conducted at a level 1 trauma centre. Thirty-two patients (25 men, 7 women, mean age 41 years, range 14-80 years) with comminuted posterior wall fracture of the acetabulum underwent reconstruction of the posterior wall during the period of July 1998 to February 2004. The average follow-up was 43 months (range 24-70 months). Clinical evaluation was based on modified Merle d'Aubigne and Postel scoring. Radiographic evaluation was according to criteria developed by Matta. The postoperative reduction was graded as anatomical in 28 patients (88%) and imperfect in 4 patients (12%). The clinical outcome was excellent in 11 (34% ), very good in 9 (28%), good in 4 (12%), fair in 3 (9%) and poor in 5 (15%). Radiological grading at the final follow-up was excellent 12 (37%), good 11 (34%), fair 4 (12%) and poor 5 (15%). Reconstruction of comminuted posterior wall acetabular fractures by buttress technique can be expected to produce good results. It can provide a stable fixation of the posterior wall amenable to early range of motion and weight bearing.

Les fractures du mur postérieur sont les plus fréquentes des fractures du cotyle. Nous présentons les résultats rétrospectifs à moyen terme, dans un centre de traumatologie de niveau 1, de la reconstruction des fractures comminutives du mur postérieur par la technique de l’étayage. Il y avait 32 patients (25 hommes, 7 femmes, d’âge moyen 41 ans) traités entre Juillet 1998 et Février 2004 avec un recul de 43 mois (24–70). L’évaluation clinique était faite selon les critères modifiés de Merle d’Aubigné et Postel et l’évaluation radiographique selon les critères de Matta. La réduction obtenue était anatomique pour 28 patients (88%) et imparfaite pour 4 (12%). L’évolution clinique était excellente pour 11 patients (34%), très bonne pour 9 (28%), bonne pour 4 (12%), moyenne pour 3 (9%) et mauvaise pour 5 (15%). L’évaluation radiologique au dernier examen était excellente 12 fois (37%), bonne 11 fois (34%), moyenne 4 fois (12%) et mauvaise 5 fois (15%). Cette technique d’étayage permet donc d’obtenir des bons résultats dans les fractures comminutives du mur postérieur. Elle permet une mobilisation et une remise en charge rapide.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
a, b Preoperative CT and radiograph of a 43-year-old male with communition of the posterior wall
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a–c At three years of follow up, postoperative radiographs showed an excellent functional result
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '3705932', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3705932/'}]}
    2. Aho AJ, Isberg UK, Katevuo VK (1986) Acetabular posterior wall fracture: 38 cases followed for 5 years. Acta Orthop Scand 57:101–105 - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '9916185', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9916185/'}]}
    2. Baumgartner MR (1999) Fractures of the posterior wall of the acetabulum. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 7:54–65 - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '4217797', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/4217797/'}]}
    2. Brooker AF, Bowerman JW, Robinson RA, Riley LH Jr (1973) Ectopic ossification following total hip replacement: incidence and a method of classification. J Bone Joint Surg Am 55:1629–1632 - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1007/BF00573448', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00573448'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '8836460', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8836460/'}]}
    2. Chiu FY, Lo WH, Chen TH, Chen CM, Huang CK, Ma HL (1996) Fractures of posterior wall of acetabulum. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 115:273–275 - PubMed
    1. None
    2. Ficat P, Arlet J (1980) Necrosis of the femoral head. In: Hungerford DS (ed) Ischemia and necrosis of bone. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, MD, pp 53–74