Open reduction in a patient with chronic unreduced traumatic hip dislocation

Abstract

Traumatic hip dislocation rarely remains undiagnosed and untreated, and the risk for avascular necrosis, arthrosis, and ankylosis is high with delayed reduction. Herein, we presented a 23-year-old female patient who was treated with open reduction combined with traction. The presenting complaints were right hip pain and limping that developed after a fall from height 4.5 months before, for which she did not seek medical treatment, but received unqualified treatment instead. She had no other problems related to trauma. Physical examination and radiographic findings showed traumatic posterior dislocation of the right hip. There was no sign of avascular necrosis on her radiographs. Skeletal traction was applied with a gradual increase in weight preoperatively and vice versa postoperatively. Open reduction was performed via an anterior iliofemoral approach. Full weight-bearing was allowed after 4.5 months. She had no complaints including pain at the final follow-up at 30 months, with no limitations to walk and squat down. Radiographically, a mild degree of sclerosis and lack of sphericity were observed in the femoral head, but joint cartilage space was good.