An acetabular fracture is a break in the socket portion of the "ball-and-socket" hip joint. These hip socket fractures are not common — they occur much less frequently than fractures of the upper femur or femoral head (the "ball" portion of the joint).
The majority of acetabular fractures are caused by some type of high-energy event, such as a car collision. Many times patients will have additional injuries that require immediate treatment.
In a smaller number of cases, a low-energy incident, such as a fall from standing, may cause an acetabular fracture in an older person who has weaker bones.
Treatment for acetabular fractures often involves surgery to restore the normal anatomy of the hip and stabilize the hip joint.
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Dr. Fernando Sanchez, Dr. Charles Billings, Dr. William Sherman, and Dr. Andrew Apple are fellowship-trained Orthopaedic Surgeons specializing in Adult Joint Replacement Surgery.
