Pelvic & Acetabular Fractures

The pelvis is the ring of bone that connects your spine to your legs, and the acetabulum is the socket of your hip joint within it. Fractures here usually result from high-energy trauma — road accidents or falls from height — and are considered among the most complex injuries an orthopaedic surgeon can treat.

These injuries demand a surgeon with dedicated fellowship training and a hospital with full trauma support. Dr. Naik performs advanced pelvic and acetabular fixation at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, with its 24/7 trauma teams and intensive care backup.

• Severe hip, groin or lower-back pain after major trauma
• Complete inability to stand or walk
• Swelling or bruising over the hip, groin or buttock
• Leg length difference or a rotated leg after the injury
• Numbness in the leg or difficulty passing urine (warning signs)

X-rays give the first picture, but high-resolution CT scans with 3D reconstruction are essential to classify the fracture pattern and plan surgery. Associated injuries to the bladder, blood vessels and nerves are carefully ruled out.

Stable, undisplaced fractures may heal with protected rest. Displaced fractures — especially those involving the hip socket — generally need surgical fixation with plates and screws to rebuild the ring and socket accurately. Precise reconstruction is the best protection against post-traumatic hip arthritis.

Recovery is measured in months, not weeks: protected weight-bearing for 8–12 weeks, structured physiotherapy, and gradual return to activity. With accurate surgery and committed rehabilitation, most patients return to walking, work and an active life.