How is the severity of an acetabular fracture determined?

How is the severity of an acetabular fracture determined?

Sometimes an acetabulum breaks straight across and other times it shatters into pieces. The severity of your fracture depends on the following factors:

• Number and size of bone fragments.
• How much each fragment is out of place.
• Injury to your cartilage.
• Injury to muscle, tendons, nerves and skin around your hip.

Open or compound fractures (when bone fragments stick out of the skin) are particularly severe because infection can occur in both the bone and the wound.

Knowing the pattern and severity of your fracture can help your healthcare provider determine the correct treatment for you.