Biomechanical Consequences of Anterior Column Fracture of the Acetabulum

OBJECTIVES:To measure biomechanical consequences of a high anterior column acetabular fracture. DESIGN:A benchtop biomechanical model using quasi-static loading of the hip joint in a simulated single-leg stance. Pressure-sensitive prescale (Fuji) film was used to determine hip joint loading parameters. PARTICIPANTS:Six cadaveric hemipelvi with one hip tested in each specimen. Three right and three left hips were tested. INTERVENTION:Creation of an anterior column fracture with anatomic reduction and fixation, followed by gap malreduction/fixation, and subsequently step malreduction/fixation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:Contact pressure, contact area, and load distribution throughout the hip joint in each experimental condition. RESULTS:There were significant increases in load (p