Nowadays, fractures of the acetabulum associated with low energy trauma are common in older adults. The indication for surgical or conservative treatment depends on multiple factors, such as patient age and comorbidities, type and location of the fracture, and socioeconomic environment. Regardless of the treatment chosen, none is free of complications. A patient with a conservatively treated acetabular fracture that resulted in septic arthritis of the quadrilateral joint is described below.
Ferguson TA, Patel R, Bhandari M, et al., 2010, Fractures of the Acetabulum in Patients Aged 60 Years and Older: An Epidemiological and Radiological Study. J Bone Joint Surg Br., 92(2): 250–257. https://doi.org/10.1302/0301-620X.92B2.22488
Antell NB, Switzer JA, Schmidt AH, 2017, Management of Acetabular Fractures in the Elderly. J Am Acad Orthop Surg, 25(8): 577–585. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-D-15-00510
Ranawat A, Zelken J, Helfet D, et al., 2009, Total Hip Arthroplasty for Post Traumatic Arthritis After Acetabular Fracture. J Arthroplasty, 24(5): 759–767. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2008.04.004
Walley KC, Appleton PT, Rodriguez EK, 2017, Comparison of Outcomes of Operative Versus Non-Operative Treatment of Acetabular Fractures in the Elderly and Severely Comorbid Patient. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol, 27(5): 689–694. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-017-1949-1
Mauffrey C, Stacey S, York PJ, et al., 2018, Radiographic Evaluation of Acetabular Fractures: Review and Update on Methodology. J Am Acad Orthop Surg, 26(3): 83–93. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-D-15-00666
Judet R, Judet J, Letournel E, 1964, Fractures of the Acetabulum: Classification and Surgical Approaches for Open Reduction – Preliminary Report. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 46: 1615–1646.
Sheth NP, Nelson CL, Springer BD, et al., 2013, Acetabular Bone Loss in Revision Total Hip Arthroplasty: Evaluation and Management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg, 21(3): 128–139. https://doi.org/10.5435/JAAOS-21-03-128
Chewakidakarn C, Nawatthakul A, Suksintharanon M, et al., 2019, Septic Arthritis Following Femoral Neck Fracture: A Case Report. Int J Surg Case Rep, 57: 167–169.
Hearth M, Compson JP, Phillips S, 2002, Unrecognised Septic Arthritis Following Fracture of the Proximal Femur in Patients Awaiting Surgery. Injury, 33(5): 457–459. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0020-1383(02)00027-x
Mader JT, Shirtliff M, Calhoun JH, 1999, The Host and the Skeletal Infection: Classification and Pathogenesis of Acute Bacterial Bone and Joint Sepsis. Baillieres Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 13(1): 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1053/berh.1999.0003
Chen C-E, Wang J-W, Juhn R-J, 2008, Total Hip Arthroplasty for Primary Septic Arthritis of the Hip in Adults. Int Orthop, 32(5): 573–580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-007-0366-1
Bauer T, Lacoste S, Lhotellier L, et al., 2010, Arthroplasty Following A Septic Arthritis History: A 53 Cases Series. Orthop Traumatol Surg Res, 96(8): 840–843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.otsr.2010.06.009
Xu C, Kuo F-C, Kheir M, et al., 2019, Outcomes and Predictors of Treatment Failure Following Two-Stage Total Joint Arthroplasty with Articulating Spacers for Evolutive Septic Arthritis. BMC MusculoskeletDisord, 20(1): 272. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2652-7