Posterior acetabular wall morphology is an independent risk factor that affects the occurrence of acetabular wall fracture in patients with traumatic, posterior hip dislocation.

purposeSmaller posterior acetabular walls have been shown to independently influence the risk for bipolar hip dislocation. We asked whether differences would also be observed in patients with traumatic posterior hip dislocation with and without posterior wall fractures.

methodsBetween 2012 and 2020 we observed 67 traumatic posterior hip dislocations. Of these, 43 traumatic posterior hip dislocations in 41 patients met the inclusion criteria. Eighteen dislocations were excluded with an acetabular fracture other than posterior wall fracture and six dislocations had insufficient computed tomography (CT) data. The mean age was 41 ± 11 years, 32 males and nine females. We observed 26 traumatic hip dislocations with posterior wall fractures and 17 without. All patients underwent polytrauma CT scans and postoperative/postinterventional pelvic CT scans. On axial CT-scans, posterior wall determining angles were measured.

resultsPatients with posterior wall fractures were not significantly older than patients without posterior wall fractures (42 ± 12 vs. 38 ± 10 years; p = 0.17). Patients without posterior wall fractures had significantly smaller posterior acetabular sector angles (84° ± 10°) than did patients with posterior wall fractures (105° ± 12°) (p < 0.01; OR 1.178). Likewise, the posterior wall angle was significantly smaller in patients without posterior wall fracture (62° ± 9°) than in those with posterior wall fractures (71° ± 8°) (p < 0.01; OR 1.141).

conclusionBoth posterior acetabular sector angle and posterior wall angle are independent factors determining the posterior wall fracture morphology in patients with traumatic posterior hip dislocation. Age and the observed trauma mechanism did not differentiate between traumatic posterior hip dislocations with and without posterior wall fractures.