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Type II – V: Posterior Hip Fracture Dislocations

- See:  Posterior Frx Dislocations of the Hip

- Discussion:
    - prognostic features:
         - long term results are proportional to the degree of intial trauma
         - this explains percentage of good results progressively decreasing from type II to type V injuries.
         - reduction, either closed or open, should be performed within 12 to 24 hrs to ensure the best results.
         - if closed reduction is selected, it should be attempted only once;
         - if this fails, one should proceed to an open reduction to prevent further damage to the femoral head.
         - w/ type IV fractures (of the acetabular floor)
         - pts w/ displaced frx of acetabular dome have uniformily poor results regardless of treatment;
    - thompson / epstein classification:
         - type I:   w/ or w/o a minor fracture
         - type II:  w/ large single frx of post. acetabular rim;
         - type III: w/ comminution of rim of acetubulum w/ or w/o major frag;
         - type IV:  w/ a fracture of the acetabular floor
                  - Surgical treatment for Pipkin type IV femoral head fracture.
         - type V:   w/ a fracture of the femoral head;
                  - Operative Versus Nonoperative Management of Pipkin Type-II Fractures Associated With Posterior Hip Dislocation 
                  - Arthroscopic Treatment of Pipkin Type I Femoral Head Fractures: A Report of 2 Cases
    - associated Injuries:

- Pre-Reduction Radiographs:
    - pelvic series radiographs (AP, inlet and outlet);
    - acetabular series radiographs (Judet views);
    - radiograph of the femur and knee;

- Management:
    - attempt closed reduction unless:
         - bone fragment is noted in the acetabulum:
    - it is essential to determine whether the hip is stable following reduction by stress testing;
         - stress testing is especially important if posterior wall frx is present;
         - type II frx of significant size may be treated non operatively if there is no posterior hip instability;
    - unstable reduction:
         - hip redislocates w/ 90 deg flexion;
         - frx of the femoral head prevents the reduction
         - comminuted frx of acetabulum, esp. posterior wall frx;

    - Open Reduction of Posterior Fracture Dislocations:
         - thompson-epstein type IV
                   - w/ type IV frx, primarily closed reduction is performed, followed by careful x-ray evaluation of the associatted acetabular frx;
                   - decesion for open reduction of acetabular frx is similar as for central fracture dislocations;
                   - one must remember that frxs communicating w/ the greater sciatic notch have the potential to damage the superior gluteal artery;
                   - life threatening blood loss can occur once the tamponade effect of fracture is removed at the fracture reduction;
                   - abdominal approach of the hypogastric artery may be required;
         - thompson-epstein type V - posterior fracture dislocations:
                   - there is an assoicatted fracture of the femoral head;
                   - subclassified according to Pipkin;
                         - subtype I: posterior dislocation of the hip w/ fracture of the femoral head cauded to the fovea centralis;
                         - subtype II: posterior dislocation of the hip w/ fracture of the femoral head cephalad to the fovea centralis;
                         - subtype III: type I or type II with assoc. frx of femoral neck
                         - subtype IV: type I, II, or, III w/ assoc. frx of acetabulum



Mid- and long-term clinical effects of trochanteric flip osteotomy for treatment of Pipkin I and II femoral head fractures.

Biomechanical consequences of fracture and repair of the posterior wall of the acetabulum.

Computed tomography evaluation of stability in posterior fracture dislocation of the hip.

Stability of posterior fracture-dislocation of the hip. Quantitative assessement using computed tomography.

Reduction of posterior dislocation of the hip in the prone position.

Operative Management of Displaced Femoral Head Fractures: Case Matched Comparison of Anterior versus Posterior Approaches for Pipkin I and Pipkin II Fractures.

Surgical dislocation of the adult hip a technique with full access to the femoral head and acetabulum without the risk of avascular necrosis.

Functional outcome of patients with femoral head fractures associated with hip dislocations.

Operative treatment of displaced Pipkin type I and II femoral head fractures