['To determine whether embolization of pelvic arterial injuries before open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of acetabular fractures is associated with an increased rate of deep surgical site infection.', 'Retrospective review of patients who underwent ORIF of acetabular fractures at our institution from 1995 through 2007 (n = 1440). We compared patients with acetabular fractures who underwent angiography and embolization of a pelvic artery (n = 12) with those who underwent angiography but did not undergo embolization (n = 14). Primary outcome was presence of infection requiring return to the operating room.', 'Seven (58%) of the 12 patients who underwent embolization developed deep surgical site infection compared with only 2 (14%) of the patients who underwent angiography but did not require pelvic vessel embolization (P < 0.05, Fisher exact test).'] Is embolization of pelvic arterial injury a risk factor for deep infection after acetabular fracture surgery?