Treatment of anterior acetabular column fracture with minimally invasive percutaneous lag screws by C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy-based navigation

Objective To study the treatment of anterior acetabular column fractures with minimally invasive percutaneous lag screws by C- arm X-ray fluoroscopy-based navigation. Methods Eight patients with no or mild shift of anterior acetabular column fractures were treated with minimally invasive percutaneous lag screw by C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy- based navigation in our department from March 2009 to September 2011. The fractures were classified as typeⅠ in 4 patients, typeⅡ in 3 patients, and typeⅢ in 1 patient according to Nakatani classification. The time from fracture to operation was 2~7 days. Results Of the 8 patients with 10 screws inserted, 5 were males and 3 were females aged 19~69 years, 2 were diagnosed with bilateral anterior acetabular column fracture and 6 with unilateral anterior acetabular column fracture with 1 screw inserted, respectively. The patients were followed up for 10~26 months, during which their fractures were healed with no complications such as vascular and nerve injury except for mild shift in 1 patient. Conclusion Internal fixation of anterior acetabular column fractures with minimally invasive percutaneous lag screws by C-arm X-ray fluoroscopy-based navigation can improve the accuracy of inserted screws, thus contributing to the function recovery in such patients.