Irreducible Femur Head Fracture-Dislocation Treatment With Kocher-Langenbeck Approach With Flip Trochanteric Osteotomy: A Novel Approach

Abstract

Femoral head fracture-dislocations are rare, and irreducible cases are even less frequent. Truly irreducible fracture-dislocations must be differentiated from incomplete reduction due to incarcerated bone or soft tissue interposition. The Pipkin classification is commonly used to classify femoral head fractures. An urgent reduction is required in traumatic hip dislocations to reduce the risk of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head. However, in femoral head fractures, the dislocated hip cannot be reduced easily due to incarcerated bone or soft tissue. In an irreducible fracture hip dislocation, It is not advisable to attempt to reduce it repeatedly because sometimes femoral head fracture-dislocation is associated with the impacted fracture of the femoral neck. It may lead to iatrogenic femoral neck fracture. Hence, in such cases, immediate open reduction and internal fixation are recommended. The Kocher-Langenbeck approach can be used for reduction and safe surgical dislocation with flip trochanteric osteotomy for fixation as a novel approach.