ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the characteristics of acetabular labrum injury in Pipkin fractures and the effectiveness of repairing the labrum with suture anchor. METHODS: Between July 2010 and July 2013, 10 cases of Pipkin fractures accompanied by acetabular labrum injury were treated. There were 7 males and 3 females with an average age of 32.5 years (range, 24-56 years). The causes of injury included traffic accident in 8 cases and falling from height in 2 cases. According to the Pipkin classification criteria, there were 6 cases of type II, 2 cases of type III, and 2 cases of type IV. The average interval from injury to operation was 8 days (range, 6-14 days). All the patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation through transtrochanteric approach with trochanteric osteotomy, and repair the labrum with suture anchor. The effectiveness was evaluated according to the Thompson & Epstein scoring scales after operation. RESULTS: All incisions healed primarily without early complication of deep infection or deep vein thrombosis of lower limb. All the cases were followed up 22 months on average (range, 12-48 months). X-ray films showed that all osteotomies and acetabular fractures healed within 3-4 months, femoral head and femoral neck fracture healed within 6-11 months. MRI examinations showed that all repaired acetabular labrums well healed. One case had necrosis of the femoral head at 12 months after operation, and was treated by total hip arthroplasty. According to the Thompson & Epstein scoring scales at last follow-up, the results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 3 cases, fair in 1 case and poor in 1 case, with an excellent and good rate of 80%. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of acetabular labrum injury can be easily missed during Pipkin fracture, preoperative diagnosis should be combined with hip MRI. Trochanteric osteotomy through transtrochanteric approach , and repairing the labrum with suture anchor can restore the hip function effectively.
