Repair of a Femoral Head Fracture Dislocation With an Associated Posterior Wall Acetabular Fracture (Pipkin 4) via a Kocher-Langenbeck Approach

Abstract

Summary:A case of a 27-year-old man with a right-sided largely infra-foveal femoral head fracture dislocation with posterior wall acetabular fracture repaired via a Kocher-Langenbeck approach is presented. This is an atypical approach for fixation of the femoral head and acetabulum used because of the size and displacement of both the posterior wall fracture and the femoral head fracture. Indications for fixation of both the femoral head and the acetabulum include a displaced acetabular fracture with: (1) a fracture of the weight-bearing portion of the femoral head and/or (2) a fracture of the femoral head that engages the anterior or posterior wall. Overall, midterm outcomes are expected to be excellent to good if anatomic reduction and a concentrically stable hip joint is restored.