MC, 26yo male Unrestrained driver Late night accident Collided head-on with wall at 60kmph
MC, 26yo male Brought to ED by ambulance Isolated left lower limb injury Hip flexed, adducted, internally rotated Severe pain on attempted motion of hip No peripheral neurological/vascular deficit
Diagnosis Posterior dislocation of left hip Loose bone fragment from ?posterior wall of acetabulum vs. femoral head Immediate attempt of reduction in ED under sedation – failed Brought to OR Hip reduced under GA
Post-manipulation CT Hip joint reduced Acetabulum intact Fracture of femoral head below the fovea (insertion of ligamentum teres) Rotation of fractured fragment noted
Treatment Patient brought to OR ORIF of femoral head Anterolateral approach to hip with trochanteric slide osteotomy Circulation-sparing approach
Treatment Fragment anatomically reduced and fixed with three screws Troch osteotomy closed with screws Mobilised postoperatively Well at two months follow-up
Dislocations of hip High-energy trauma Usually unrestrained occupants in MVA Also pedestrian MVA, falls from height, industrial accidents 50% associated with fractures elsewhere
Posterior Dislocation Most common – over 90% Axial load applied to femur while hip flexed Impact of knee on dashboard
Associated Injuries Head, neck, face Chest /intra-abdominal injuries 50% have fractures elsewhere! Sciatic nerve injuries 10% to 20%! Thorough exam essential
Vascular supply Branches of profunda femoris medial and lateral femoral circumflex Ascending branches are kinked/compressed in hip dislocation
Dislocated hip is an emergency Management Dislocated hip is an emergency Full trauma survey Reduction restores blood flow through compressed vessels Goal to decrease risk of AVN and DJD AVN 5% with early reduction within 6 hours AVN 15% with reduction within 12 hours AVN 30% when reduction delayed >12 hours
Reduction manoeuvre (Allis) Patient supine Assistant stabilises pelvis Slowly flex hip to 900 Traction in line of femur Adduction and internal rotation Reduction often seen and felt
Post-reduction management CT of affected hip (thin 2mm cuts) Look for congruency of reduction, loose fragments Mobilise early Touch down weight-bearing 4-6 weeks ROM precautions: no adduction, no internal rotation, no flexion > 60o AVN can occur up to 2-5 years
Open reduction Rarely needed Dislocations irreducible by closed means Soft tissue interposition Femoral head buttonholed through capsule Nonconcentric reduction Fracture of femoral neck/head/acetabulum
Prognosis AVN 5% to 30% Posttraumatic OA most frequent Recurrent dislocation 2% Neurovascular injury 10%-20% Sciatic nerve Prognosis unpredictable but 50% full recovery Heterotopic ossification 2% VTE 50%
Femoral head fractures Rare injuries Almost all complicate hip dislocations 10% of posterior hip dislocations Fracture occurs by shear as femoral head dislocates History and presentation as in hip dislocation Patient posture may be less extreme
Pipkin Classification JBJS, 1957 I Fracture inferior to fovea II Fracture superior to fovea III Fracture of femoral head with fracture of femoral neck IV Fracture of femoral head with fracture of acetabulum
Pipkin, JBJS, 1957
Femoral head fractures - treatment Pipkin 1 – closed treatment If reduction adequate (<1mm step-off) If reduction not adeuate – ORIF Small fragments can be excised Pipkin 2 – involve weighbearing surface Same recommendations but only anatomical reduction can be accepted with closed treatment Prognosis for AVN same as in simple dislocations
Approach to hip for fractures of femoral head Helfet, Lorich et al, J Orthop Trauma, 2005 Trochanteric slide osteotomy
Femoral head fractures - treatment Pipkin 3 – femoral head fracture with associated fracture of neck Prognosis is poor - 50% AVN Pipkin 4 – femoral head fracture with associated fracture of acetabulum Acetabular fracture must be treated with ORIF Femoral head must also be treated with ORIF to allow early motion Prognosis variable - depends on acetabular fracture
Literature 1. Yoon TR et al Clinical and radiographic outcome of femoral head fractures: 30 patients followed for 3-10 years. Acta Orthop Scand. 2001 Aug;72(4):348-53 2. Asghar FA, Karunakar MA. Femoral head fractures: diagnosis, management, and complications. Orthop Clin North Am. 2004 Oct;35(4):463-72 3: Brooks RA, Ribbans WJ. Diagnosis and imaging studies of traumatic hip dislocations in the adult. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2000 Aug;(377):15-23 4: DeLee JC, Evans JA, Thomas J. Dislocation of the hip and associated femoral-head fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1980 Sep;62(6):960-4 5. Henle P, Kloen P, Siebenrock KA. Femoral head injuries: Which treatment strategy can be recommended? Injury. 2007 38(4):478-88