Clinical Outcomes of the Modified Stoppa Combined with Iliac Fossa Approach for Complex Acetabular Fractures: A Medium- and Long-term Retrospective Study

Objective The modified Stoppa combined with iliac fossa approach has gained increasing popularity. Although early clinical outcomes have been satisfactory, extensive long-term clinical outcomes are relatively scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the medium- and long-term outcomes of this approach for complex acetabular fractures. Methods This was a retrospective study involving 57 patients with complex acetabular fractures from January 2009 to January 2016. All fractures were treated with the modified Stoppa combined with iliac fossa approach. Follow-up was at least 5 years. Primary outcome measures, including quality of reduction and clinical outcomes, were recorded by an independent observer. Secondary outcome measures included time to surgery, surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, and perioperative complications. Results Fifty-seven patients (range, 18-80 years) included 46 males and 11 females. There were 32 cases on the left side and 25 cases on the right side. The most common associated injury was pulmonary contusion. According to the Judet-Letournel classification, there were 27 both-column fractures, 16 anterior column with posterior hemitransverse fractures and 14 T-type fractures. The average time from injury to surgery was 7.3 days. The average intraoperative blood loss and transfusion were 750.9 ml and 564.3 ml, respectively. All fractures healed within 6 months after surgery. The average follow-up time was 7.7 years, and there was no loss of follow-up. The quality of reduction was graded as anatomical in 23 cases (40.4%), imperfect in 22 cases (38.6%), and poor in 12 cases (21.0%). According to grading system of Merle d' Aubigne and Postel, clinical outcomes at 1 year follow-up were excellent in 17 cases (29.8%), good in 25 cases (43.9%), fair in four cases (7.0%), and poor in 11 cases (19.3%). The excellent and good rate was 73.7% and the difference was not statistically significant compared with the clinical outcomes at the last follow-up. Intraoperative complications included four cases of obturator nerve injury and two cases of vascular injury. Postoperative complications included one case of wound delayed healing, two cases of deep vein thrombosis, two cases of avascular necrosis of femoral head, three cases of heterotopic ossification and five cases of post-traumatic arthritis. Only one of these patients underwent reoperation for femoral head necrosis. Conclusions The modified Stoppa combined with iliac fossa approach can achieve satisfactory reduction quality and hip function. It might be a valuable alternative to the ilioinguinal approach for the surgical management of acetabular fractures.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the medium- and long-term outcomes of the modified Stoppa combined with iliac fossa approach for complex acetabular fractures. The results showed that this surgical technique can achieve satisfactory reduction quality and hip function. The rate of intraoperative and postoperative complications was low, indicating that it may be a potential alternative surgical approach.