Judet-Letournel classification

FRACTURES OF THE ACETABULUM: CLASSIFICATION AND SURGICAL APPROACHES FOR OPEN REDUCTION. PRELIMINARY REPORT.

JUDET R, JUDET J, LETOURNEL E. The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume 1964 · PMID 14239854

Question

How can acetabular fractures be reliably classified on radiographs and approached surgically for open reduction?

Design

Descriptive anatomical and radiological study with a clinical case series.

Patients

Patients with acetabular fractures treated in Paris.

Intervention

Classification based on anterior and posterior columns, oblique (Judet) radiographic views and defined surgical approaches

Comparison

None

Primary outcome

Not applicable (descriptive)

Key result

Described the two-column concept, the iliac and obturator oblique views and radiographic lines needed to read acetabular fractures, forming the basis of the later 10-pattern Letournel classification (5 elementary, 5 associated).

Limitations

Descriptive work; classification relies on plain films, and CT has since changed how fractures are assessed.

Impact on practice

The Judet-Letournel classification and Judet views remain the standard framework for describing acetabular fractures and choosing a surgical approach, and are heavily examined.