Authors of section

Authors

Derek Donegan, Michael Huo, Michael Leslie

Executive editor

Michael Baumgaertner

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Traumatic acetabular fracture with stable component

General considerations

Traumatic fracture to the prosthetic joint remote from surgery with a stable cup are classified as Della Valle IIIA. These may be high or low energy and are greatly affected by the underlying bone stock of the patient.

The stability of the cup can be difficult to define, and serial radiographic and clinical evaluation may change the diagnosis over the course of time.

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.

Della Valle IIIA acetabular fracture

Etiology

  • High energy collision
  • Low energy fall

Clinical signs

  • Pain
  • Possible associated dislocation
  • Leg length discrepancy

Imaging

  • Regular radiographs including Judet views
  • CT scan
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