Operative treatment of floating hip injuries / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To discuss the mechanism of injury,treatment decisions,complications and surgical results of the floating hip injuries (FHI).Methods Thirty-three patients with FHI were retrospectively analyzed in our hospital from June 2001to June 2011.There were 25 males and 8 females,with an average age of 34.6 years (range,4-73 years).The mechanism of injury was motor vehicle collision for 20 patients,fall down from a height for 11,crushed injury for 1,and sports-related injury for 1.According to Liebergall classification for the floating hip injuries,there were 7 cases for type Ⅰ (21.2％),9 for type Ⅱ (27.2％)and 17 for type Ⅲ (51.6％).All patients had associated injuries,the average injury severity score (ISS) was 28.9.Thirty-two of the femoral fractures underwent surgical stabilization of their femoral fractures.Surgical stabilization methods included ORIF or intramedullary nailing (29 cases),external fixation (1 case),total hip arthroplasty (2 cases).Acetabular fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in 16 cases.Thirteen patients suffered pelvic fractures underwent surgical stabilization for at least one component of ring disruption.Results Twenty-eight cases (84.8％) were followed up for 2.3 to 10.1 years (average,3.5 years).Thirteen patients were followed up in the 16 patients who suffered type Ⅰ or Ⅱ fractures.According to Majeed functional evaluation,the results were excellent in 8 cases,good in 3 and fair in 2,with the excellent and good rate being 84.6％.Fifteen patients with type Ⅲ were followed up,according to D'Aubigné and Postel evaluation criterion.The joint functions were excellent in 7 cases,good in 4,fair in 3,and poor in 1,with the excellent and good rate being 73.3％.According to Ma Yuanzhang functional evaluation,the knee functions of the all patients were excellent in 23 cases,good in 3,and fair in 2,with the excellent and good rate being 92.9％.Complications seen in these patients included post-traumatic osteoarthritis of the hip developed in one hips,2 patients developed heterotopic ossification (HO),one case of avascular necrosis of the femoral head,and two femoral nonunions.The most severe complication was traumatic sciatic nerve palsy,which was found in 5 patients.Conclusion Ipsilateral injuries to the femur and the pelvis or acetabulum (floating hip) are severe injuries usually caused by high-energy trauma.The femur fracture will most commonly be addressed first,and surgeons should be aware of the high incidence of sciatic nerve palsy as well as treatment options and potential complications associated with this devastating combination of injuries.