THE ACETABULAR T-TYPE FRACTURE - A BIOMECHANICAL EVALUATION OF INTERNAL-FIXATION

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stability of different t ypes of internal fixation requiring anterior, posterior, or combined s urgical approaches for the T-type acetabular fracture, Eight specimens were loaded 25 times in a cyclic manner to 150 N for each type of fix ation construct evaluated, The model attempted to range the hip throug h an are of motion anticipated in the limited activities expected afte r surgery, Strain gauges were placed on the 3 fracture planes of the T -type fracture, These gauges measured displacements, Internal fixation consisted of a single anterior column plate, compared with a single p osterior column plate, compared with simultaneous placement of both an terior column and posterior column plates, The differences in displace ments measured between the 3 types of fixation at each of the 3 fractu re sites were not statistically significant, In evaluating motion at t he anterior fracture line, the anterior plate made the largest contrib ution to stability, although this result was not statistically signifi cant, The posterior plate similarly contributed most to posterior frac ture stability, although again not statistically significant, Each of the 3 fixations controlled the inferior fracture line motions in a com parable manner.