Functional and Radiological Outcomes of Pediatric Acetabular Fracture Management

Pediatric acetabular fractures are rare injuries and represent a challenging subset of pediatric pelvic trauma [1,2,3,5,6,15]. Although uncommon, they are clinically important because they are usually related to high-energy trauma and may be associated with systemic or musculoskeletal injuries [2,3,5]. Their management differs from adult acetabular fractures because treatment decisions must consider fracture displacement, hip stability, articular congruity, and the potential effect on the triradiate cartilage and future acetabular development [5,7,13].

Radiological assessment using plain radiographs and computed tomography is essential for diagnosis, classification, treatment planning, and follow-up [3,5,6]. In selected cases, magnetic resonance imaging may provide additional information, particularly in younger children with open triradiate cartilage or a large cartilaginous acetabular component [7].

Stable, nondisplaced, or minimally displaced fractures are usually treated non-operatively, while unstable, incongruent, or significantly displaced fractures may require surgical fixation [3-5,8].

Because of the rarity of pediatric acetabular fractures, the available evidence remains limited, with most published studies being retrospective series or reviews [2-6]. Therefore, prospective evaluation of radiological and functional outcomes is needed to better understand fracture healing, hip development, complications, and functional recovery after these injuries [2,4-6] and propose a guide or algorithm for management.