Background: Many factors are known to affect the functional outcomes of the acetabular surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of incision preferences and number of incision on scores and clinical functional outcomes.
Patients and methods: Forty-seven adult patients who had undergone acetabular surgery and had been followed up for at least 1 year in our clinic were included in the study. Demographic data, trauma type, acetabular fracture type based on the Judet ve Letournel classification, presence of any additional traumatic fractures, time to surgery, operation duration, surgical technique, and postoperative complications were recorded. Range of motion measurements, SF-36 and Harris Hip function scale score, and full weight-bearing times were evaluated on the postoperative first year follow-up and reviewed retrospectively.
Results: Our study suggests that use of double incisions in the surgery of associated fractures shortens the full weight-bearing time. The localization and the number of incisions were found to be unrelated with the Harris Functional Hip scale, SF-36 (PCS, physical component score), and SF-36 (mental component score, MCS) scores.
Conclusion: Incision type and number of incisions must be determined based on the fracture type and fracture localization for better functional outcomes. The factors that have the most effects on the functional outcomes are the type and the localization. In associated fractures, performing multiple incisions reduces the time for full weight bearing and enables patients to return to their daily routine early but have no effect on the functional outcomes.
Keywords: Acetabulum fractures; functional outcomes; incision; surgical treatment.