Radiographic and clinical evaluation of external pedicle screw fixation as a definitive solution for selective acetabular fractures: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Acetabular fractures typically require open surgery to restore hip joint function. Openness may lead to serious tissue damage, increased bleeding, and the risk of nerve and vascular damage. Minimally invasive closed reduction or percutaneous fixation aims to minimize additional harm to patients and provide reliable fixation to promote fracture recovery and functional rehabilitation. This study aimed to assess the radiographic and clinical effectiveness of pedicle screw external fixation as a definitive treatment approach for selective acetabular fractures.

Methods: The present study enrolled 43 patients with acetabular fractures who were categorized into three groups based on their definitive treatment plans: pedicle screw external fixation group, traditional external fixation stent fixation group, and open reduction internal fixation group, comparing the operative duration and the time required for fracture healing. Fracture reduction was evaluated using the Tornetta and Matta grading system, and postoperative clinical outcomes were analyzed using the Majeed score. Analyze three surgical methods by comparing clinical indicators and prognostic references.

Results: Among the 43 patients, there were 12 cases in the pedicle screw external fixation group, 14 cases in the traditional external fixation stent fixation group, and 17 cases in the open reduction internal fixation group. There were no significant differences in age, gender, injury mechanism, Injury Severity Score (ISS), or other demographic factors among the three groups. The reduction of fractures with internal fixation was significantly better than that with external fixation(p = 0.032). Operative duration and quality of reduction did not significantly differ between the pedicle screw external fixation group and the traditional external fixation stent fixation group. However, the pedicle screw external fixation group exhibited distinct advantages in postoperative quality of life (p = 0.041) and a lower incidence of loose fixing screws compared to the traditional external fixation stent fixation group.

Conclusion: Compared to traditional external fixation stent fixation, pedicle screw external fixation represents a superior definitive treatment option for acetabular fractures due to its stability and improved patient quality of life.