Spontaneous acetabular fracture
General considerations
Spontaneous fractures result from osteolysis or pathologic etiologies remote from the index arthroplasty. They can be classified as Della Valle IV.
These are from insufficiency fractures.
Further information about Della Valle classification can be found in the publication: Della Valle CJ, Momberger NG, Paprosky WG. Periprosthetic fractures of the acetabulum associated with a total hip arthroplasty. Instr Course Lect. 2003;52:281–290.
Etiology
- Osteolysis due to wear debris from the bearing surface of the cup
- Metastatic disease
Clinical signs
- Patient may report pain or remain clinically asymptomatic
- Incidental radiographic finding
Imaging
- Regular radiographs including Judet views
- CT scan
