Objective：To probe into the operative techniques and clinical outcomes of treating compound acetabular fractures through single ilioinguinal approach. Methods：From September 2011 to October 2015，13 cases of compound acetabular fractures undergoing operation were followed up. Of them，there were 10 males and 3 females with an average age of 34.8 years. The interval between injury and surgery was 5 to 13 days，with an average of 8 days. All the cases underwent operation by single ilioinguinal approach. Results：All the 13 cases were followed up，and the mean follow-up period was 23.4（8 to 49） months. All the cases were evaluated by Matta reduction criteria and the modified D’Aubigne and Postel clinical scoring. Matta reduction criteria were excellent in 8 patients，good in 4 and poor in 1. D’Aubigne and Postel clinical scoring were excellent in 7 patients，good in 4 and poor in 2. There was complica－tion of fat liquefaction in 2 cases，one cured by changing dressing and the other by surgery. Another complication was continuing bleeding，cured by blood transfusion and pressure dressing. There was damage of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in 4 cases，which became better in the following 3 to 6 months. There was traumatic arthritis in 1 case after surgery. Conclusion：Acetabular fractures associate with anterior and posterior hemi-transverse fractures；both column fractures and T shape fractures can be treated through single ilioinguinal approach which can result in satisfactory functional outcomes by preoperative planning and careful operation.
