New Classification for Acetabular Fractures

A study has proposed a new classification for acetabular fractures that is simple, unambiguous, and easily understood by both orthopedic surgeons and radiologists, while providing clear direction for both diagnosis and surgical planning.

The acetabulum is the socket in the pelvis into which the thighbone fits at the hip and is often involved in injuries to the pelvis. For the study, researchers analyzed 112 acetabular fracture patterns on computed tomography (CT) and were able to classify these into four basic categories, with category II having four subcategories. The benefits of the new classification system extend to both orthopedic surgeons and their patients.

The new classification system is designed to replace the Judet-Letournel classification that has been accepted since the 1960s. According to the researchers, this system has several limitations, including awkward and repeated patient positioning, difficulties in conceptualization, and wide variation in interpretation. The study appeared in the June 2004 issue of the American Journal of Roentgenology.

"The type of acetabular fracture is very clearly and simply defined by the CT appearance and classification,” said lead author Dr. John H. Harris, of the University of Texas-Houston Medical School (USA). "Therefore, the surgeon knows exactly the location and position of the principal fragments and, from this information, the type and extent of the surgical procedure required to repair the fracture can be determined even before the patient enters the operating room. Such preoperative surgical planning leads to shorter operating time and, generally, shorter recuperation times for the patient.”




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U. Texas-Houston Medical School