Epidemiology of traumatic hip dislocation in patients treated in Ceará, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To describe the epidemiological profile of patients with traumatic hip dislocation treated in our Institute from November/ 2012 to July/2013. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study based on interviews and involving 43 patients who suffered traumatic hip dislocation was conducted. Results: The mean age of patients was 34.4 years old and 90.7% were male. Regarding the mechanism of injury, 95% involved traffic accidents. The posterior dislocation of the hip was the most common injury (93%). Associated lesions were observed in 74.4% of patients, hip fractures being the most frequent. The time span between accident and dislocation reduction was less than 6 hours in 37.2% of patients, between 6 and 12 hours in 32.5% and over 12 hours in 30.3%, ranging from 1 hour to 15 days. A fraction of 90.7% of patients was submitted to closed reduction. Conclusion: Traumatic hip dislocation affected mostly young adults, victims of traffic accidents. The posterior dislocation of the hip was the most frequent injury and closed reduction was performed in 90.7% of patients. The time span between accident and dislocation reduction was less than 12 hours in most patients.