Acta chirurgiae orthopaedicae
et traumatologiae Čechoslovaca

Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech. 2022; 89(2):146-149 | DOI: 10.55095/achot2022/022

Weight-Bearing Restrictions after Acetabular Fracture, Necessity or Hope? A Brief Observational StudyOriginal papers

B. J. BRAUN^1,*, T. HISTING¹, M. F. R. ROLLMANN¹, M. M. MENGER¹, D. OSCHE², M. ORTH², T. POHLEMANN², S. C. HERATH¹

¹ University Hospital Tuebingen; on behalf of the Eberhard-Karls-University Tuebingen, Faculty of Medicine; BG Hospital Tuebingen, Germany

² Saarland University Hospital; Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, Homburg, Germany

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY:
Most common postoperative treatment recommendations after acetabulum fractures suggest at least 6 weeks of postoperative partial or non weight-bearing. To protect the osteosynthetic construct this surgically set weight-bearing limit is trained by physical therapy. Aim of our analysis was to determine the free field patient compliance to these weight-bearing restrictions and observe their influence on the early postoperative radiographic imaging.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:
Patients after surgical treatment of an acetabulum fracture were included in our analysis. Every patient was instructed to maintain a 20 kg weight-bearing limit for 6 weeks. Postoperative weight-bearing was continuously monitored during this time with a pressure measuring insole. Maximum weight-bearing per day was recorded and maintenance of reduction assessed after this time.

RESULTS:
In total 10 patients were included into the study. Only 1 patient stayed within the weight-bearing limit during the analysis. Maximum weight-bearing as high as 110 kg was recorded. All patients maintained postoperative reduction at the 6 week timepoint.

DISCUSSION: AND CONCLUSIONS
Despite regular physical therapy training compliance to the generally accepted weight-bearing limits was low. Regardless of the non-compliance the radiographic outcome remained unchanged. Further analysis on the use of permissive weight-bearing aftercare regimes are warranted.

Keywords: weight-bearing, acetabulum fracture, compliance

Published: April 15, 2022  Show citation