Acetabular fractures with quadrilateral plate (QLP) involvement have traditionally been treated by buttress plates applied through an Ilio-inguinal approach. Recently, many surgeons prefer the application of infra-pectineal plates through the modified Stoppa approach for this purpose. Whether one method can be preferred over the other is a matter of investigation.

The research question was whether an infra pectineal plate applied through the modified Stoppa approach for acetabular fractures with QLP involvement would result in an equivalent or better outcome than a buttress plate applied through an ilioinguinal approach.

This was a retrospective study of patients with QLP fractures operated by either of the two methods and who had completed at least one year follow up. Demographic and surgical details and the radiological and clinical outcomes at the last follow-up visit were obtained from patient records.

A total of 41 patients were treated with a buttress plate applied through an ilioinguinal approach (group A), and 49 patients were treated with an infra-pectineal plate by the modified Stoppa approach (group B). Duration of surgery and intra-operative blood loss was significantly less in group B patients. Radiological and clinical outcomes were better in group B patients than group A patients. Implant loosening was more frequent in group A patients. Injury to the obturator vessels were more common in group B patients.

With a comparatively lesser surgical duration and blood loss, better clinical and radiological outcomes at least one year after the surgery, an infra-pectineal plate applied through the modified Stoppa approach can be considered the preferred treatment for most acetabular fractures with QLP involvement.

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