Document Type
Article
Source Publication Title
European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology
Abstract
Background Acetabular fractures involving the posterior wall remain challenging to treat, with no gold standard fixation method established. We describe a novel technique using Synthes 2.7 mm non-locking plates originally designed for the midfoot.
Methods Retrospective review of 120 patients with posterior wall acetabular fractures treated with H-plates at a Level-1 trauma center (2012–2021). Patient demographics, operative parameters, and outcomes were analyzed.
Results The cohort was predominantly male (67.5%) with motor vehicle collisions as the primary mechanism (89.1%). Forty-seven patients (39.1%) received isolated H-plate fixation. Operative time was significantly shorter with isolated H-plates versus additional hardware (2.25 ± 0.60 vs 2.70 ± 0.91 h; p = 0.003). No patients required reoperation for fixation failure. Total hip arthroplasty was required in 9.2% of patients.
Conclusion The H-plate offers a simplified approach to posterior wall fixation with promising preliminary results, though longer follow-up is needed.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-025-04579-9
Publication Date
11-20-2025
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Clark II, C. Julian; Riley, Johnathan W.; McCraney, Alice; Spears, Isaac J.; Melancon, Drew P.; McGee, Tyler; Childress, S. Austin; Mittwede, Peter N.; Morellato, John; Bergin, Patrick F.; O'Neill, Dillon C.; Foulke, Bradley A.; Graves, Matthew L.; and Russell, George V., "Midfoot “H-Plate” for Operative Fixation of Posterior Wall Acetabular Fractures: a Technical Trick and Case Series" (2025). Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Publications. 2.
https://digitalcollections.umc.edu/orthopaedicsurgery/2
