Simultaneous Ipsilateral “Floating Hip” with Hip Dislocation and Femoral Neck and Shaft Fractures Associated with “Floating Knee” Injuries with Patella Fracture and Traumatic Sciatic Nerve Injury

Abstract

Simultaneous ipsilateral “floating-hip” and “floating-knee” injuries are very rare and severe, and they occur in high-velocity road traffic accidents. A 55-year-old man presented with posterior wall fracture – dislocation of the acetabulum, complete fracture – dislocation of the femoral head, ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture, open patellar fracture, Gustilo type II, tibial fracture, and traumatic sciatic nerve injury/peroneal division. Given the fact that hip dislocation is an orthopedic emergency, we first did closed external tibial fixation, femoral head reduction, osteosynthesis of the acetabular fracture, and partial patellectomy. After 2 days, the patient underwent a second surgery; fixation of the neck and femoral shaft fractures was done, with a self-dynamic internal fixator. After 14 months from the injuries, radiographs show complete healing of all fractures, the patient walks independently without crutches, and the peroneal nerve is partially recovered. Despite the seriousness of the presented injuries, we did not have any complications, and 14 months after the injury, the femoral head is still viable, with no signs of femoral head osteonecrosis.

Keywords

• injury
• floating hip
• floating knee