Traumatic hip dislocation

Traumatic dislocations of the native hip are a relatively rare injuries resulting from high-energy mechanisms producing grossly abnormal force vectors acting across the hip joint. Road-traffic collisions are the main cause and the affected patients have a high incidence of associated injuries. A thorough trauma assessment should be undertaken and, in simple dislocations, immediate reduction should be attempted before considering operative measures. An optimal outcome is achieved when reduction is achieved within 6 h, which has been shown to minimize the incidence of ensuing avascular necrosis.Open reduction is necessary when concentric reduction is not achieved by closed manipulation due to the interposition of soft tissue, cartilage or bone. Surgical fixation of the acetabulum and femoral head, in complex cases, is necessary to maintain joint congruity and reduce the risk of late post-traumatic arthrosis. The management of patient expectations and adequate surveillance for avascular necrosis is necessary in treating these relatively rare injuries.