[Osteosynthesis of displaced fractures of the acetabulum with Letournel plate. Apropos of 14 cases].

Up to 1989, conservative treatment was used for fractures of the acetabulum at the Dakar teaching hospital, with in previous study, of poor result. The same authors present here their first experience of surgical treatment of displaced fractures of acetabulum using LETOURNEL plate at the "Centre de Traumatologie" of Dakar for three years. Fourteen patients (12 men and 2 women) presented after traffic road accident: fracture of posterior wall: 7 cases transversal fracture: 1 case complex fractures: 6 cases. Those displaced fractures were associated with hip dislocation in 8 cases. The initial emergency treatment by reducing the dislocation, associated with transfemoral pin traction was realized. At the day 7 through a posterior surgical approach in 11 cases and through a combined anterior and posterior approach in three cases. The anatomical reconstruction of the acetabulum was achieved in 12 cases. It's still early to make a final clinical assessment, but the early functional results using MERLE D'AUBIGNE's criteria (pain, lamenliss, mobility) are very good in 10 cases and poor in 2 cases. The reliability of the procedure, and the adequate post operative kinesitherapy is according to the authors the main indication for displaced fractures of the acetabulum.