OBJECTIVE: Review 16 cases of ipsilateral femur and pelvis fractures, describe associated lesions, treatment, results, and complications. METHODS: 16 patients were studied (13 male and three female, mean age of 27.8 years [ranging from 19.1 to 35.6 years]), with ipsilateral fractures of the femur and pelvis (floating hip). The lesion mechanism involved a street * Trabalho realizado no Serviço de Ortopedia e Traumatologia do Hospital Municipal Miguel Couto HMMC - Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Brasil. accident for all patients: cart-to-car collision in 10 cases, car-to-object collision in 3 cases, and running over in three cases. All patients presented with associated lesions. According to Liebergall et al classification, eight patients were type A, six were type B, and two were type C. The time of surgery was determined by the hemodynamic status of the patient and patient response to initial resuscitation maneuvers, and by soft part condition at the sites of lesion. On the average, lesions were definitely fixated on the 12th day after the accident (ranging from 9 to 19 days). Procedures were performed in a single surgery. Mean hospitalization time was 28 days (ranging from 16 to 120 days). No patient abandoned the treatment and mean follow-up was of 26 months (ranging from 20 to 51 months). Results were evaluated according to the criteria of d'Aubigné and Postel modified by Matta et al. RESULTS: None of the patients died. Using the modified d'Aubigné and Postel criteria, results were excellent in three cases, good in nine, regular in three, and poor in one. Regular results were mostly due to the presence of pain on walking, main walking limited even with the use of crutches. One patient evolved to a poor final result after an ipsilateral open fracture of the tibia, open fracture of the femur and of the posterior border with hip displacement. FINAL COMENTS:Ipsilateral fractures of the femur and pelvis are complex lesions requiring specific management training. Satisfactory results can be expected when these lesions are treated by professionals who are acquainted with the anatomy of the pelvic ring anatomy. Acetabulum involvement makes for a worse prognosis for the patient.
Femoral fractures; Pelvic bones; Acetabulum; Hip injuries
