The acetabulum is the hemispherical socket of the hip bone formed by the fusion of the ilium (superior 40 percent), ischium (posteroinferior 40 percent), and pubis (anteroinferior 20 percent) at the triradiate cartilage. It receives the femoral head in the ball-and-socket hip joint, with the acetabular labrum and lunate articular surface providing the primary articular contact.
| Articulations |
|
|---|---|
| Landmarks |
|
| Ossification | The triradiate cartilage at the centre of the three iliac, ischial, and pubic contributions to the acetabulum fuses between ages 14 and 16, converting the tripartite childhood acetabulum into the single bone adult acetabulum. Premature triradiate cartilage closure from pelvic trauma produces acetabular dysplasia from inadequate socket depth development. |
Acetabular fractures from high-energy trauma (posterior dislocations, side impacts, falls from height) are complex injuries classified by Judet and Letournel into five elementary and five associated fracture types. CT reconstruction is essential for fracture characterisation. Associated femoral head fractures and sciatic nerve injury (in posterior patterns) must be assessed. Surgical fixation through anterior and/or posterior approaches restores articular congruity to reduce post-traumatic arthritis risk.
High-energy trauma drives the femoral head into the acetabulum; displaced fractures often need surgical fixation to restore the joint surface.
Tearing of the labrum at the acetabular rim, often linked to femoroacetabular impingement, causes groin pain and catching.
A shallow acetabulum gives poor coverage of the femoral head, leading to instability in infancy or early arthritis in adults.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
