Characterization of acetabular fractures can be difficult because of the complex acetabular anatomy and the many fracture patterns. The five most common acetabular fractures are: bi-column, T-shaped, transverse, transverse with posterior wall, and isolated posterior wall. 1 Acetabular bi-column fractures are challenging articular injuries that usually require operative treatment.2 Accurate classification of acetabular fractures is important for determining the proper surgical treatment.3 Because of the complex acetabular anatomy, various classification schemes have been suggested, but the Judet-Letournel classification system (Fig. 1) remains the most widely...

Study Design A retrospective study using data obtained from computed tomography (CT) of adult patients will be used. 3D volume reconstructions of the pelvis were used to take the various measurements of the anterior and posterior acetabular column in 281 patients (156 male and 125 female) with exclusion criteria being previous trauma and fractures of the pelvis, congenital abnormalities and tumours involving the bony pelvis. Setting Steve Biko Academic Hospital, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa. Patient Selection Selection of patients was sequential and...

We present the results of the study performed using data obtained from 281 patients (156 male & 125 female) and provide recommendations regardingthe safe sizes for the South African population as well techniques to accuratelyand safely measure the columns for individual outliers. The measurements of the anterior and posterior columns varies as expected. Gender differences are marked with male pelvis measurments being larger than female pelvis measurements. This is however not a surprising finding. The tables below (Table 1& Table 2) show the exact means,...

Our study shows that safe screws withdiameters of 3,5 mm (males) and 3,0mm screws (females)are safe for the pelvic anterior columns, while in the posterior columns screws of diameters of 6mm (males) and 5mm (females) would be safe to use. No statistically significant correlation could be obtained between antero-posterior femoral head diameter or femoral neck diameter and the meaurements of the anterior and/ or posterior acetabular columns. Further analysis of the data and further investgation into ethnic sub-group analysis as well as refinement of exact...

Goulet JA, Bray TJ. Complex acetabular fractures. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1989; 240: 9 – 20. Pierannunzii L, Fischer F, Tagliabure L, et al. Acetabular both-column fractures: Essentials of operative management. Injury 2010; 41: 1145 – 1149. Brandser E, Marsh JL. Acetabular fractures: easier classification with a systematic approach. AJR 1998; 171: 1217 – 1228. Judet R, Judet J, Letournel E. Fractures of the acetabulum: classification and surgical approaches for open reduction – preliminary report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 1964; 46: 1615 – 1646....