Fixation of Pipkin Fractures with Acutrak Screws: A Report of Three Cases

ABSTRACT

Femoral head fracture with posterior dislocation of the hip occurs relatively infrequently. Many treatment options exist for this condition. The fracture fragments of the femoral head can be internally fixed or removed depending on the severity of fracture comminution, fragment size, and location on the weight-bearing surface of the femoral head. In Pipkin type I and II fractures, the fragments are typically located anteriorly. Hence, it is important to strongly fix the fracture fragments to the femoral head rather than to excise them, in the interest of securing a better outcome. Even if the fragments are caudal to the fovea centralis, the discarding of large portions of the femoral head that are amenable to rigid fixation is not preferred. Three femoral head fractures were treated using Acutrak screws incorporated with a self-compression mechanism. We report the results and consider ways to use Acutrak screws.