Acetabular surgical units: a directory for the United Kingdom.

Abstract

We present the first directory of the specialist acetabular surgical units throughout the United Kingdom. Previously there has not been any directory of acetabular surgeons in the UK as held by any governmental or healthcare agency. We have established that acetabular fracture fixation cases were performed at 33 NHS hospitals in the UK in 2003-2004. The total number of cases performed at each centre per year varied greatly (range 2-98). Twenty-one units performed greater than 10 cases per annum, comprising 92% of all operative cases in the UK in 2003-2004. We encourage trauma and orthopaedic units to communicate directly with their local units and familiarise themselves with those units' preferred referral processes. We publish this directory to assist in future research in this field, to help in resource planning in the field of major trauma, to aid training and continued development in this complex area and help with the timely referral of injured patients to these specialist units for this significant injury.