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Hip Dislocation, Traumatic

Shane L. Larson, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Displacement of the femoral head from the acetabulum

  • ~5% of all traumatic joint dislocations (1)[A]

  • True orthopedic emergency

EPIDEMIOLOGY

  • Highest rates occur in males than females and ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Severe hip pain

  • A high-impact mechanism such as motor vehicle collisions, a fall from a height, or sports injuries

PHYSICAL EXAM

  • In posterior dislocations, the affected leg will be short...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) protocols because there is a high likelihood of associated injuries

  • Attempt closed reduction within 6 hours to decrease the risk of avascul...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Although there is controversy regarding postreduction immobilization and timing of weight-bearing, early protected weight-bearing has been shown to reduce complic...

REFERENCES

1
Obakponovwe  O, Morell  D, Ahmad  M, et al. Traumatic hip dislocation. Orthop Trauma.  2011;25(3):214–222. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]
2
...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Archer JE, Balakumar B, Odeh A, et al. Traumatic hip dislocation in the paediatric population: a case series from a specialist centre. Injury. 2021;52(12):3660–...

CODES

ICD10

  • S73.006A Unspecified dislocation of unspecified hip, init encntr

  • S73.016A Posterior dislocation of unspecified hip, initial encounter

  • S73.036A Other anterior dislocation of unspecified hip, i...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • True orthopedic emergency

  • Maintain high index of suspicion based on mechanism and examination. Look for associated injuries.

  • Single AP pelvis radiograph confirms the diagnosis.

  • Reduction ...

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