OBJECTIVE: To establish guidelines for the treatment of femoral head fractures and to determine the best form of access in cases treated surgically. METHODS: We evaluated the clinical and radiological results of 13 patients (13 fractures) treated surgically, between May 1986 and July 1996, at the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo (SCMSP), Fernandinho Simonsen Pavillion. RESULTS: Among six Pipkin 1 fractures, five had resection of the fragment, resulting in four excellent and one good result. The good result had fixation of the fragment. All three Pipkin 2 fractures had fixation of the fragment, resulting in two excellent and one regular result. Two Pipkin 3 patients had primary arthroplasty. Among Two Pipkin 4 patients, one was treated with open reduction and internal fixation of the acetabulum, without addressing the head fragment that had reduced significantly, resulting in early arthrosis, and the other patient was treated with primary total hip replacement. CONCLUSION: Upon comparing the literature review and our patients' treatment results, we concluded that the femoral head fracture treatment must be surgical and that the choice surgical access depends on the type of fracture.
Femur; Femur head; Fracture fixation; Fracture healing
