Functional and Radiological Outcomes of Pediatric Acetabular Fracture Management

Overview

To assess functional outcomes of children with acetabular fractures after conservative or surgical management.

Pediatric acetabular fractures are rare injuries and represent a challenging subset of pediatric pelvic trauma \[1,2,3,5,6,15\]. Although uncommon, they are clinically important because they are usually related to high-energy trauma and may be associated with systemic or musculoskeletal injuries \[2,3,5\]. Their management differs from adult acetabular fractures because treatment decisions must consider fracture displacement, hip stability, articular congruity, and the potential effect on the triradiate cartilage and future acetabular development \[5,7,13\]. Radiological assessment using plain radiographs and computed tomography is essential for diagnosis, classification, treatment planning, and follow-up \[3,5,6\]. In selected cases, magnetic resonance imaging may provide additional information, particularly in younger children with open triradiate cartilage or a large cartilaginous acetabular component \[7\]. Stable, nondisplaced, or minimally displaced fractures are usually treated non-operatively, while unstable, incongruent, or significantly displaced fractures may require surgical fixation \[3-5,8\]. Because of the rarity of pediatric acetabular fractures, the available evidence remains limited, with most published studies being retrospective series or reviews \[2-6\]. Therefore, prospective evaluation of radiological and functional outcomes is needed to better understand fracture healing, hip development, complications, and functional recovery after these injuries \[2,4-6\] and propose a guide or algorithm for management.

Conditions

Eligibility

Outcomes

Central Contacts