Pre-operative predictors of poor reduction in acetabular fractures submitted to surgical treatment

•The success of acetabular displaced fractures surgical treatment is influenced by preoperative factors.•The use of Verbeek criteria for articular step and gap measures over Matta criteria for radiographic reduction provided some distinct results from those found in the literature.•Time to surgery, associated fracture pattern, >3 associated fractures, and pelvic injury increased the likelihood of unsatisfactory reduction.•Although increased age and initial displacement may increase surgical technical difficulty, they did not have a significant impact on reduction quality.•Because time to surgery is the only factor in which surgeons can intervene, focus should be given to implementing early intervention strategies.