Peri-operative outcomes for ORIF of acetabular fracture in the elderly: Comparison with displaced intracapsular hip fractures in a national pelvic and acetabular referral centre over 5 years.

INTRODUCTION: The increasing incidence of acetabular fractures in the elderly and the fracture complexity seen in this cohort represents one of the greatest challenges faced by trauma orthopaedic surgeons today. There are no formal guidelines of best practice in the treatment of these patients. Management options vary from non-operative, acute ORIF, and/or total joint replacement. Although surgical intervention allows for earlier mobilization and avoidance of the complications of prolonged bedrest, the patients ability to tolerate what is often major surgery is always of concern. This is in stark contrast to intracapsular hip fractures, (a fracture within the same joint), where acute surgery is recommended in virtually all cases.

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to evaluate the peri-operative outcomes for geriatric patients undergoing acetabular ORIF and hemiarthroplasty to assess if there is a significant difference in early outcome parameters.

DESIGN: This is a retrospective case-control study.

SETTING: This study was performed in the National Centre for Pelvic and Acetabular surgery.

PATIENTS: 42 age- and sex-matched patients with comparable ASA grades were included in each arm of the study. Patient selection in the acetabular ORIF group was consecutive patients managed operatively in the centre during the period 2010-2015. The selection for the hemiarthroplasty group was by random selection of age- and sex-matched patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty during the same period.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcomes that were proposed prior to the study being performed was perioperative mortality and post-op complications. Secondary outcomes were operating times, blood loss and need for ICU admission.

RESULTS: A significant difference between the two cohorts was observed with operative times, blood loss, need for transfusion, and need for ICU admission, all higher in the acetabular ORIF group. There was no significant difference in mortality or post-op infection.

CONCLUSIONS: Our paper supports the concept that acute ORIF of acetabular fractures, with appropriate peri-operative support, can be undertaken safely. There is no difference in the major peri-operative outcomes of mortality or infection when compared with hip fracture patients requiring hemiarthroplasty.