Abstract
Purpose: Fractures of the anterior acetabular wall with preservation of the pelvic inlet are rare. These lesions were not noted or classiþed by Judet and Letournel in their classiþcation system Ð Ç In fractures of the anterior wall, the anterior part of the articular horseshoe breaks off with a major portion of the middle segment of the anterior column È. The ilio-inguinal approach was recommended for the surgical treatment of these fractures. Method : We have encountered two cases involving purely the anterior wall with preservation of the pelvic inlet, rather than the anterior wall fracture described by Judet and Letournel. We have identiþed only two other cases in the international literature. The recognition that these fractures were not as that described by Judet and Letournel was essential, as an alternative surgical approach was necessary for reconstruction. The ilioinguinal approach of Judet and Letournel is the technique of choice in anterior fractures, but provides only very limited potential for intra-articular manipulation through the line of fracture. The Smith-Petersen approach was practically the only feasible choice as intra-articular exposure is difþcult or impossible to obtain with the classical approaches used for anterior acetabular fractures. Results: Both of our cases were reconstructed via the Smith-Petersen approach. Postoperative review at 18 months demonstrated painless, fully mobile hips with evidence of radiological union of the fractures. Conclusion: We propose designating as ñfracture of the anterior columnñ all the anterior fractures described by Judet and Letournel (column and wall) that justify the ilioinguinal approach. We would reserve the term ñanterior wallñ for large anterior acetabular rim fractures, with the extension exclusively lateral to and below the pelvic brim. We recommend the use of a Smith-Petersen approach for reconstruction once this fracture pattern is identiþed.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
