Cable fixation in displaced fractures of the acetabulum: 21 patients followed for 2-8 years.

We evaluated the outcome in 21 patients having acetabular fractures who had been treated with a 2 mm-braided cable, alone (n = 6), or together with plate and screws. Reduction with a fracture gap of less than 2 mm was achieved in 20 cases. The operation lasted an average of 3 (1.5-4.8) hours. The average blood loss was 1.4 (1.3-2.8) L. No intraoperative complication occurred in relation to surgery. Postoperative complications included 2 cases each of posttraumatic arthritis and avascular necrosis of the femoral head. After a mean follow-up of 4 (2-8) years, the clinical outcome was excellent in 13, good in 3, fair in 3 and poor in 2, and the radiographic outcome was excellent in 10, good in 6, fair in 1 and poor in 4. We believe that cable fixation is a useful technique since the indirect reduction requires a limited exposure, avoids penetration of the screw into the joint, and improves fixation in patients with osteoporosis.