Is the Posterior Wall Avulsion the Simplest Acetabular Fracture?

The posterior wall fracture – the most frequent acetabular lesion – is often regarded as the simplest acetabular fracture. In fact, a large variety of complex articular lesions is subsumed under this fracture type. A consecutive series of 60 posterior wall fractures is reviewed retrospectively. Lesions characteristics, treatment method, early and late postoperative complications a 2-year functional results were recorded. In 27 patients (45%), additional damage to the cartilage of the acetabular cavitiy such as subchondral impaction, free articular fragments of separation of the posterior wall into several pieces was present. Seven patients (11.6%) showed preoperative neurologic deficit. Sec…