X-rays of acetabular fractures are taken from a number of different angles to show the pattern of the fracture and how out of place the bones are (displacement). These studies provide images of dense structures, such as bones. You doctor will also carefully examine the rest of your body to determine if you have received any other injuries. In some cases, nerves may be injured at the same time that the acetabulum is fractured. He or she will also check to see if you can move your ankles and toes and feel sensation on the bottom of your feet. Your doctor will perform a thorough examination of your pelvis, hips, and legs. If there is significant blood loss, it may lead to shock-a life-threatening condition that can result in organ failure. If the fracture is due to high-energy trauma, there may also be injuries to the head, chest, abdomen, or legs. Patients with fractures caused by high-energy trauma will almost always go or be brought to an urgent care center or emergency room for initial treatment because of the severity of their symptoms. How is an acetabular fracture diagnosed? Emergency Stabilization Although these patients do not often have other injuries, they may have complicating medical problems, such as heart disease or diabetes. This is most common in older patients whose bones have become weakened by osteoporosis. When the fracture is caused by high-energy impact, patients often experience extensive bleeding and have other serious injuries that require urgent attention.Īcetabular fractures are sometimes caused by weak or insufficient bone. Depending upon the direction of the force, the head of the femur is sometimes pushed out of the hip socket, an injury called hip dislocation. This force can be transmitted from the knee (such as hitting the knee against the dashboard in a head-on car collision) or from the side (such as falling off a ladder directly onto the hip). What causes acetabular fractures?Īn acetabular fracture results when a force drives the head of the femur against the acetabulum. When they do occur, they are usually the result of very high-energy trauma. Open fractures of the acetabulum are rare because the hip joint is well covered with soft tissues. Immediate treatment is required to prevent infection. This type of fracture is particularly serious because, once the skin is broken, infection in both the wound and the bone can occur. If the bone breaks in such a way that bone fragments stick out through the skin or a wound penetrates down to the broken bone, the fracture is called an "open" or compound fracture. The injury to surrounding soft tissues, such as muscle, tendons, nerves, and skin.The injury to the cartilage surfaces of both the acetabulum and the head of the femur.The amount each piece is out of place - In some cases, the broken ends of bones line up well in more severe fractures, there may be a large gap between the broken pieces, or the fragments may overlap each other.The number and size of the fracture fragments.The severity of the injury depends on several factors, including: How is the severity of an acetabular fracture measured? If the joint remains irregular or unstable, ongoing cartilage damage to the surfaces may lead to arthritis. When the acetabulum is fractured, the femoral head may no longer fit firmly into the socket, and the cartilage surface of both bones may be damaged. For example, the bone can break straight across the socket or shatter into many pieces. What is an acetabular fracture?Īcetabular fractures vary. These structures can occasionally be damaged as the result of an injury to the acetabulum. Major nerves, blood vessels, and portions of the bowel, bladder, and the reproductive organs all pass within or close to the pelvis. These ligaments help provide both function and stability to the hip joint, allowing it to move without falling out of the socket. Bands of tissue called ligaments connect one bone to another. The bone surfaces of the ball and socket are covered with articular cartilage-a smooth, slippery substance that protects and cushions the bones and enables them to move easily. The ball is the femoral head, which is the upper end of the femur (thighbone). The socket is formed by the acetabulum, which is part of the pelvis. The hip is one of the body's largest joints. Treatment for acetabular fractures often involves surgery to restore the normal anatomy of the hip and stabilize the hip joint. We offer diagnosis and treatment in over 70 specialties and subspecialties, as well as programs, services, and support to help you stay well throughout your lifetime. BMC physicians are leaders in their fields with the most advanced medical technology at their fingertips and working alongside a highly skilled nursing and professional staff.
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