Fracture-dislocation of the femoral head with associated ipsilateral trochanteric and shaft fracture of the femur.

An exceptional fracture-dislocation of the femoral head with associated trochanteric and shaft fracture of the same femur in a severely multi-injured 25-year-old man has been treated by open reduction of the dislocation and internal fixation of the trochanteric and shaft fractures, with a 130 degrees and a straight plate, respectively. At the 27-months follow-up examination the patient showed good evidence of fracture healing, and avascular necrosis of the femoral head had not developed, even though there had been a 5-day delay in reduction of the dislocation. The reported observation not only illustrates this extremely rare combination of injuries, but also shows that this therapeutic plan, which is able to provide the basis for eventual and further reconstructive procedures, may also offer unpredictable and gratifying outcomes in certain instances.