Long-term outcome after traumatic anterior dislocation of the hip

Traumatic anterior dislocation of the hip joint is rare. Additional injuries to the hip due to dislocation are even more infrequent. Outcome is limited by osteoarthritic joint degeneration or the occurrence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Anterior hip dislocation occurred in ten of 100 patients with traumatic hip dislocations (8 men, mean age: 43, 22-62years) at two major trauma centres, between January 2001 and December 2008. Four patients had impaction fractures of the femoral head and three patients had fractures of the anterior acetabular wall. One patient presented with an open dislocation. In three of the ten patients surgical treatment was necessary. Nine patients were evaluated retrospectively at a follow-up of 4.8 +/- A 2.3 years (mean +/- A SD). The mean scores were 88 +/- A 19 (Harris Hip-Score), 15 +/- A 23 (WOMAC-Score), level 6 (UCLA-Score). Four cases presented with only fair clinical or radiological results according to Epstein. AVN with collapse of the femoral head was observed in one. Traumatic anterior hip dislocations presented in six of the ten cases with additional injuries to the hip. Surgical treatment in cases with deep impaction fractures of the femoral head or with large fragments of the acetabulum may improve the outcome.