Abstract:[Objective] To compare the clinical results of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of acetabular fractures involvingthe posterior wall by the direct posterior approach (DPA) versus Kocher Langenbeck (K-L) approaches. [Methods] A retrospective analysiswas conducted on 43 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation for acetabular fractures involving the posterior wall fromJanuary 2015 to June 2022. Of them, 19 patients underwent ORIF through DPA approach, while other 24 patients were through the K-L ap-proach. The documents of perioperative period, follow-up, and images were compared between the two groups. [Results] The DPA groupshowed significantly better than the K-L group in terms of surgical time [(83.9±13.9) min vs (102.0±20.9) min, P=0.002], incision length[(9.8±1.2) cm vs (16.0±1.5) cm, P<0.001], intraoperative blood loss [(267.4±56.6) ml vs (326.7±84.1) ml, P=0.002], intraoperative fluorosco-py frequency [(2.4±0.6) times vs (3.4±0.7) times, P<0.001], and postoperative walking time [(40.2±6.8) days vs (50.5±10.1) days, P<0.001].The average follow-up time was of (15.4±1.3) months, and the DPA cohort resumed full weight-bearing activity significantly earlier thanthat in the K-L counterpart [(79.4±6.9) days vs (86.2±7.1) days, P=0.003]. The VAS scores significantly decreased (P<0.05), while Harrisscore, Merle D'Aobign é-Postel score, hip flexion-extension ROM, and internal-external rotation ROM significantly increased in bothgroups over time (P<0.05). The DPA group was significantly superior to the K-L group regarding VAS [(4.1±1.0) vs (5.4±1.2), P<0.001;(1.7±1.0) vs (3.0±0.8), P<0.001], Harris score [(74.2±5.0) vs (71.1±3.6), P=0.026; (87.0±3.1) vs (83.3±3.8), P=0.002], hip flexion-extensionROM [(75.5±8.5)° vs (69.5±7.0)°, P=0.014; (92.4±11.8)° vs (86.0±9.2)°, P=0.045] at 1 and 6 months postoperatively, and Merle D'Aobigné-Postel score [(13.0±1.3) vs (11.7±1.4), P=0.003] 1 month after surgery. As for imaging, there was no statistically significant difference inthe quality of fracture reduction, fracture healing time, Tonnis hip degeneration grade, ectopic ossification, and femoral head necrosis between the two groups (P>0.05). [Conclusion] The DPA approach has advantages of fewer bleeding, shorter incisions, and fewer complica-tions for ORIF of acetabular fractures involving the posterior wall, and achieves more satisfactory short-term outcomes over the traditionalK-L approach.