Irreducible Traumatic Fracture-Dislocation of the Hip with Impalement onto the Ischial Spine: A Case Report.

CASE: A 45-year-old man appeared to have a central (protrusio) hip dislocation but actually had a transverse posterior wall acetabulum fracture with irreducible posterior dislocation due to impalement of the femoral head on the ischial spine. He underwent urgent open reduction on presentation and subsequent internal fixation in a staged manner. He developed avascular necrosis at 18 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

The nondisplaced ilioischial and iliopectineal acetabular radiographic lines were alerts that the dislocation was actually posterior. This led to further imaging before any closed reduction attempts because standard reduction maneuvers would have placed the patient at high risk for iatrogenic femoral head or neck fracture.