Severe intraoperative vascular bleeding as main complication of acetabular fractures treated with plate osteosynthesis via the modified Stoppa approach

Acetabular fractures are challenging fractures and finding the best supportive treatment is complex. Many operative treatment options exist - one of them is the plate osteosynthesis via the modified Stoppa approach gaining popularity over the last decades. The purpose of this study is to give an overview of this surgical techniques and its main complications. Patients & GE; 18 years between the years 2016 and 2022 with acetabular fractures in our department received a surgical intervention with plate fixation via the modified Stoppa approach. All protocols and documents during a patient's hospital stay were analyzed to find relevant perioperative complications concerning this operative technique. Between 01/2016 und 12/2022 75 patients with acetabular fractures were treated surgically in the author's institution with a plate osteosynthesis via the modified Stoppa approach. In 26.7 % (n = 20) of all cases, patients were confronted with one or more perioperative complications typical for this operation. Intraoperative venous bleedings were the main complication with 10.6 % (n = 8). Postoperative functional impairment of the obturator nerve and deep vein thrombosis occurred with 2.7 % (n = 2) and 9.3 % (n = 7). This retrospective study shows that plate fixation via the Stoppa approach is a good treatment option because of the excellent intraoperative overview of the fracture, but has its pitfalls and complications. Especially severe vascular bleedings must be taken into account and its management well known.

Automated summary

This study provides an overview of the plate osteosynthesis via the modified Stoppa approach for treating acetabular fractures and highlights the main complications associated with this technique. The results show that although this surgical method allows for excellent intraoperative visibility of the fracture, it is not without risks, such as severe vascular bleeding and nerve function impairment.