Results in Patients with Craniocerebral Trauma and an Operatively Managed Acetabular Fracture

Summary: Results in 23 patients with significant craniocerebral trauma (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤10) and displaced acetabular fracture requiring surgery were reviewed after a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Despite a postoperative anatomic reduction in all but one case, clinical outcome for these hips was poor, with an average Harris hip rating of 59. Patients older than 40 years had a significantly poorer outcome than did younger patients (p = 0.004). Postoperative problems occurred in 70 of patients (n = 16); the largest portion of these represented symptomatic heterotopic bone, which occurred in 61. None of the four patients who had an anterior ilioinguinal surgical approach had symptomatic heterotopic ossification. The average Glasgow outcome score was 3.9 out of 5, and 20 of the 23 patients, despite a prolonged convalescence, were able to return to independence and self-care.