[Total hip arthroplasty for the post-traumatic osteoarthritis after open reduction and internal fixation of acetabular fracture].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the surgical strategy of traumatic osteoarthritis of the hip joint secondary to the failure of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) treatment on acetabular fractures.
METHODS: Eighteen cases of traumatic osteoarthritis of the hip joint received total hip arthroplasties from May 2002 to December 2009, who had undergone the surgery of ORIF after acetabular fractures. There were 12 male and 6 female with an average age of 53 years (45 to 66 years). It was average 11.2 months (6.0 to 24.0 months) from the present of pain and limp to the operation. It was average 35 months (8 to 72 months) from ORIF procedure on acetabular fracture to total hip arthroplasty. Harris score was 50 points in average (26 to 70 points).
RESULTS: All 18 cases were followed up 40 months in average (12 to 86 months). They were allowed to get out of bed on 1 week after the operation. The time of full weight bearing lagged to 2 or 3 months after the operation. All patients had the function of their hips improved with Harris score of 86 points in average (80 to 92 points).
CONCLUSIONS: The procedures of ORIF on acetabular fracture make lots of trouble to total hip arthroplasty. It is important to rebuild the normal biological mechanisms of acetabulum and uses uncement fixed prosthesis as possible as it can.