The management of acetabular fractures is one of the most, if not the most, complex aspect of orthopaedic trauma. It involves a definite learning curve, probably best documented in a report by Matta and Merritt of the first 121 acetabular fractures treated operatively by Matta. Grouping the surgical reductions chronologically in groups of 20 clearly showed that experience improved the ability to avoid unsatisfactory reductions and to perform anatomic reductions (Fig. 56.1). Kebaish, Roy, and Rennie demonstrated this same concept by comparing the reductions obtained by experienced pelvic trauma surgeons with those obtained by less experienced surgeons, who had a much lower rate of anatomic reduction (Fig. 56.2).
