Hip Dislocations

John T. Gorczyca, MD
University of Rochester Medical Center

Created March 2004; Revised January 2006

 Introduction

Hip dislocations caused by significant force:

– Association with other fractures
– Damage to vascular supply to femoral head
Thus, high chance of complications
 Anatomy:
Hip Joint

Ball and socket joint.

Femoral head: slightly asymmetric, forms 2/3 sphere.
Acetabulum: inverted “U” shaped articular surface.
Ligamentum teres, with artery to femoral head, passes
through middle of inverted “U”.
 Joint Contact Area

Throughout ROM:
• 40% of femoral head is in contact
with acetabular articular cartilage.
• 10% of femoral head is in contact
with labrum.
 Acetabular Labrum

Strong fibrous ring

Increases femoral head coverage
Contributes to hip joint stability
 Hip Joint Capsule
• Extends from intertrochanteric ridge of
proximal femur to bony perimeter of
acetabulum
• Has several thick bands of fibrous tissue
Iliofemoral ligament
• Upside-down “Y”
• Blocks hip extension
• Allows muscle relaxation with standing
 Femoral Neck Anteversion

• Averages 70 in Caucasian males.

• Slightly higher in females.

• Oriental males and females have been noted to have

anteversion of 140 and 160 respectively.
Blood Supply to Femoral Head

1. Artery of Ligamentum Teres

• Most important in children.
• Its contribution decreases with age, and is
probably insignificant in elderly patients.
 Blood Supply to Femoral Head

2. Ascending Cervical Branches

• Arise from ring at base of neck.
• Ring is formed by branches of medial and lateral
circumflex femoral arteries.
• Penetrate capsule near its femoral attachment and
ascend along neck.
• Perforate bone just distal to articular cartilage.
• Highly susceptible to injury with hip dislocation.
 Sciatic Nerve

Composed from roots of L4 to S3.

Peroneal and tibial components differentiate early,
sometimes as proximal as in pelvis.
Passes posterior to posterior wall of acetabulum.
Generally passes inferior to piriformis muscle, but
occasionally the piriformis will split the peroneal
and tibial components
Hip Dislocation: Mechanism of Injury

Almost always due to high-energy trauma.

Most commonly involve unrestrained
occupants in MVAs.
Can also occur in pedestrian-MVAs, falls
from heights, industrial accidents and
sporting injuries.
 Posterior Dislocation

• Generally results from axial load applied to

femur, while hip is flexed.
• Most commonly caused by impact of
dashboard on knee.
 Type of Posterior Dislocation
depends on:

Direction of applied force.

Position of hip.

Strength of patient’s bone.

 Hip Position vs. Type of Posterior
Dislocation
In General,

Abduction: fracture-dislocation
Adduction: pure dislocation

Extension: femoral head fracture-dislocation

Flexion: pure dislocation
Mechanism of
Anterior
Dislocation

Extreme abduction with external rotation of hip.

Anterior hip capsule is torn or avulsed.
Femoral head is levered out anteriorly.
 Effect of Dislocation on Femoral
Head Circulation

When capsule tears, ascending cervical branches

are torn or stretched.
Artery of ligamentum teres is torn.
Some ascending cervical branches may remain
kinked or compressed until the hip is reduced.
Thus, early reduction of the dislocated hip can
improve blood flow to femoral head.
 Associated Injuries
Mechanism: high-energy, unrestrained occupants

Thus, associated injuries are common:

• Head and facial injuries

• Chest injuries
• Intra-abdominal injuries
• Extremity fractures and dislocations
 Associated Injuries

Mechanism: knee vs. dashboard

Contusions of distal femur
Patella fractures
Foot fractures, if knee extended
 Associated Injuries
Sciatic nerve injuries occur in 10% of hip
dislocations.
Most commonly, these resolve with reduction
of hip and passage of time.
Stretching or contusion most common.
Piercing or transection of nerve by bone can
occur.
 Classification
Multiple systems exist.

Many reflect outmoded evaluation and

treatment methods.
 Thomas and Epstein Classification
of Hip Dislocations
Most well-known

Type I Pure dislocation with at most a small posterior

wall fragment.
Type II Dislocation with large posterior wall fragment.
Type III Dislocation with comminuted posterior wall.
Type IV Dislocation with “acetabular floor” fracture
(probably transverse + post. wall acetabulum
fracture-dislocation).
Type V Dislocation with femoral head fracture.
 AO/OTA Classification
• Most thorough.
• Best for reporting data, to allow comparison of
patients from different studies.

• 30-D10 Anterior Hip Dislocation

• 30-D11 Posterior Hip Dislocation
• 30-D30 Obturator (Anterior-Inferior)
Hip Dislocation
 Evaluation: History
Significant trauma, usually MVA.

Awake, alert patients have severe pain in hip

region.
 Physical Examination: Classical
Appearance

Posterior Dislocation: Hip flexed, internally

rotated, adducted.
 Physical Examination: Classical
Appearance

Anterior Dislocation: Extreme external rotation,

less-pronounced abduction
and flexion.
Unclassical presentation
(posture) if:

• femoral head or neck fracture

• femoral shaft fracture
• obtunded patient
 Physical Examination

• Pain to palpation of hip.

• Pain with attempted motion of hip.
• Possible neurological impairment:
Thorough exam essential!
 Radiographs: AP Pelvis X-Ray

• In primary survey of ATLS Protocol.

• Should allow diagnosis and show direction of dislocation.
– Femoral head not centered in acetabulum.
– Femoral head appears larger (anterior) or smaller (posterior).
• Usually provides enough information to proceed with
closed reduction.
 Reasons to Obtain More
X-Rays Before Hip Reduction
• View of femoral neck inadequate to rule out
fracture.

• Patient requires CT scan of abdomen/pelvis for

hemodynamic instability
– and additional time to obtain 2-3 mm cuts through
acetabulum + femoral head/neck would be minimal.
X-rays after Hip Reduction:

• AP pelvis, Lateral Hip x-ray.

• Judet views of pelvis.
• CT scan with 2-3 mm cuts.
 CT Scan
Most helpful after hip reduction.
Reveals: Non-displaced fractures.
Congruity of reduction.
Intra-articular fragments.
Size of bony fragments.
 MRI Scan

• Will reveal labral tear and soft-tissue anatomy.

• Has not been shown to be of benefit in acute
evaluation and treatment of hip dislocations.
 Clinical Management:
Emergent Treatment

• Dislocated hip is an emergency.

• Goal is to reduce risk of AVN and DJD.

• Evaluation and treatment must be streamlined.

 Emergent Reduction
• Allows restoration of flow through occluded or
compressed vessels.
• Literature supports decreased AVN with earlier
reduction.
• Requires proper anesthesia.
• Requires “team” (i.e. more than one person).
 Anesthesia

• General anesthesia with muscle relaxation facilitates

reduction, but is not necessary.
• Conscious sedation is acceptable.
• Attempts at reduction with inadequate analgesia/
sedation will cause unnecessary pain, create muscle
spasm, and make subsequent attempts at reduction
more difficult.
 General Anesthesia if:
• Patient is to be intubated emergently in
Emergency Room.
• Patient is being transported to Operating
Room for emergent head, abdominal or
chest surgery.
• Take advantage of opportunity.
 Reduction Maneuvers
Allis: Patient supine.
Requires at least two people.

Stimson: Patient prone, hip flexed and

leg off stretcher.
Requires one person.
Impractical in trauma (i.e. most
patients).
 Allis Maneuver
• Assistant: Stabilizes pelvis
• Posterior-directed force on both ASIS’s
• Surgeon: Stands on stretcher
• Gently flexes hip to 900
• Applies progressively increasing traction to
the extremity
• Applies adduction with internal rotation
• Reduction can often be seen and felt
 Reduced Hip

• Moves more freely

• Patient more comfortable

• Requires testing of stability

• Simply flexing hip to 900 does not
sufficiently test stability
 Stability Test
1. Hip flexed to 90o
2. If hip remains stable, apply internal rotation,
adduction and posterior force.
3. The amount of flexion, adduction and internal
rotation that is necessary to cause hip dislocation
should be documented.
4. Caution!: Large posterior wall fractures may
make appreciation of dislocation difficult.
 Irreducible Hip
Requires emergent reduction in O.R.
Pre-op CT obtained if it will not cause delay.
One more attempt at closed reduction in O.R. with
anesthesia.
Repeated efforts not likely to be successful and may create
harm to the neurovascular structures or the articular
cartilage.

Surgical approach from side of dislocation.

 Hip Dislocation:
Nonoperative Treatment

• If hip stable after reduction, and reduction congruent.

• Maintain patient comfort.
• ROM precautions (No Adduction, Internal Rotation).
• No flexion > 60o.
• Early mobilization.
• Touch down weight-bearing for 4-6 weeks.
• Repeat x-rays before allowing weight-bearing.
 Hip Dislocation:
Indications for Operative Treatment

1. Irreducible hip dislocation

2. Hip dislocation with femoral neck fracture
3. Incarcerated fragment in joint
4. Incongruent reduction
5. Unstable hip after reduction
1. Irreducible Hip Dislocation: Anterior

Smith-Peterson approach
• Watson-Jones is an alternate approach
1. Allows visualization and retraction of interposed
tissue.
2. Placement of Schanz pin in intertrochanteric
region of femur will assist in manipulation of the
proximal femur.
3. Repair capsule, if this can be accomplished
without further dissection.
1. Irreducible Hip Dislocation: Posterior

1. Kocher-Langenbeck approach.

1.Remove interposed tissue, or

release buttonhole.

1.Repair posterior wall of acetabulum if

fractured and amenable to fixation.
Irreducible Posterior Dislocation
with Large Femoral Head Fracture

Fortunately, these are rare.

Difficult to fix femoral head fracture from

posterior approach without transecting
ligamentum teres.
 Three Options
1.Detach femoral head from ligamentum teres,
repair femoral head fracture with hip dislocated,
reduce hip.
2.Close posterior wound, fix femoral head fracture
from anterior approach (either now or later).
3.Ganz trochanteric flip osteotomy.

Best option not known: Damage to blood supply

from anterior capsulotomy vs. damage to blood supply
from transecting ligamentum teres.

These will be discussed in detail in femoral head

fracture section.
 2. Hip Dislocation with Femoral
Neck Fracture

Attempts at closed reduction potentiate chance of fracture

displacement with consequent increased risk of AVN.
If femoral neck fracture is already displaced, then the
ability to reduce the head by closed means is markedly
compromised.
Thus, closed reduction should not be attempted.
 2. Hip Dislocation with Femoral
Neck Fracture
Usually the dislocation is posterior.
Thus, Kocher-Langenbeck approach.
If fracture is non-displaced, stabilize fracture
with parallel lag screws first.
If fracture is displaced, open reduction of
femoral head into acetabulum, reduction of
femoral neck fracture, and stabilization of
femoral neck fracture.
 3. Incarcerated
Fragment

Can be detected on x-ray or CT scan.

Surgical removal necessary to prevent abrasive wear of the

articular cartilage.

Posterior approach allows best visualization of acetabulum

(with distraction or intra-op dislocation).

Anterior approach only if:

dislocation was anterior and,
fragment is readily accessible anteriorly.
 4. Incongruent Reduction

From:
• Acetabulum Fracture (weight-bearing
portion).
• Femoral Head Fracture (any portion).
• Interposed tissue.

Goal: achieve congruence by removing interposed

tissue and/or reducing and stabilizing fracture.
 5. Unstable Hip after Reduction
• Due to posterior wall and/or femoral head fracture.
• Requires reduction and stabilization fracture.

• Labral detachment or tear

– Highly uncommon cause of instability.
– Its presence in the unstable hip would justify surgical repair.
– MRI may be helpful in establishing diagnosis.
 Results of Treatment
• Large range: from normal to severe pain and degeneration.
• In general, dislocations with associated femoral head or
acetabulum fractures fare worse.
• Dislocations with fractures of both the femoral head and the
acetabulum have a strong association with poor results.
• Irreducible hip dislocations have a strong association with poor
results.
– 13/23 (61%) poor and 3/23 (13%) fair results.
McKee, Garay, Schemitsch, Kreder, Stephen. Irreducible fracture-dislocation of
the hip: a severe injury with a poor prognosis. J Orthop Trauma. 1998.
Complications of Hip Dislocation
• Avascular Necrosis (AVN): 1-20%

– Several authors have shown a positive

correlation between duration of dislocation and
rate of AVN.

– Results are best if hip reduced within six hours.

 Post-traumatic Osteoarthritis
• Can occur with or without AVN.
• May be unavoidable in cases with severe
cartilaginous injury.
• Incidence increases with associated femoral head
or acetabulum fractures.
• Efforts to minimize osteoarthritis are best directed
at achieving anatomic reduction of injury and
preventing abrasive wear between articular
carrtilage and sharp bone edges.
 Recurrent Dislocation

Rare, unless an underlying bony instability has not

been surgically corrected (e.g. excision of large
posterior wall fragment instead of ORIF).
Some cases involve pure dislocation with inadequate
soft-tissue healing – may benefit from surgical
imbrication (rare).
Can occur from detached labrum, which would
benefit from repair (rare).
Recurrent Dislocation Caused by
Defect in Posterior Wall and/or Femoral
Head

Can occur after excision of fractured fragment.

Pelvic or intertrochanteric osteotomy could alter the
alignment of the hip to improve stability.
Bony block could also provide stability.
Delayed Diagnosis of Hip Dislocation

Increased incidence in multiple trauma patients.

Higher if patient has altered sensorium.
Results in: more difficult closed reduction.
higher incidence of AVN.

In NO Case should a hip dislocation be treated

without reduction.
 Sciatic Nerve Injury
Occurs in up to 20% of patients with hip
dislocation.

Nerve stretched, compressed or transected.

With reduction: 40% complete resolution

25-35% partial resolution
 Sciatic Nerve Palsy:
If No Improvement after 3–4 Weeks
EMG and Nerve Conduction Studies for
baseline information and for prognosis.

Allows localization of injury in the event that

surgery is required.
 Foot Drop

Splinting (i.e. ankle-foot-orthosis):

• Improves gait
• Prevents contracture
 Infection

Incidence 1-5%
Lowest with prophylactic antibiotics and
limited surgical approaches
 Infection: Treatment Principles

Maintenance of joint stability.

Debridement of devitalized tissue.
Intravenous antibiotics.
Hardware removed only when fracture healed.
 Iatrogenic Sciatic Nerve Injury

Most common with posterior approach to hip.

Results from prolonged retraction on nerve.

 Iatrogenic Sciatic Nerve Injury
Prevention:
Maintain hip in full extension
Maintain knee in flexion
Avoid retractors in lesser sciatic notch
? Intra-operative nerve monitoring (SSEP, motor
monitoring)
 Thromboembolism
Hip dislocation = high risk patient.

Prophylactic treatment with:

• low molecular weight heparin, or
• coumadin

Early postoperative mobilization.

Discontinue prophylaxis after 2-6 weeks (if

patient mobile).
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