Prospective single-surgeon series of 121 displaced acetabular fractures treated at USC between 1980–1984, examining the relationship between operative reduction quality and clinical outcome, documenting the surgical learning curve, and defining criteria for selecting among three standard approaches and for nonoperative management.
This study established that anatomic reduction is the primary determinant of clinical success in acetabular fracture surgery. The three main surgical approaches described remain the standard exposures used today, and the reported complication rates provide benchmarks for modern practice.
Prospective single-surgeon series of 121 displaced acetabular fractures treated at USC between 1980–1984, examining the relationship between operative reduction quality and clinical outcome, documenting the surgical learning curve, and defining criteria for selecting among three standard approaches and for nonoperative management.
This study established that anatomic reduction is the primary determinant of clinical success in acetabular fracture surgery. The three main surgical approaches described remain the standard exposures used today, and the reported complication rates provide benchmarks for modern practice.