Ipsilateral fractures of the pelvis and the femur-floating hip? A retrospective analysis of 42 cases

A consecutive series of 40 patients, who sustained 42 ipsilateral pelvic an d femoral fractures, is reported. There were eight (26.6%) traumatic neurol ogical deficits and three open femoral fractures. Two multiply injured pati ents died in the postraumatic period because of the severity of their injur ies. No associated vascular injuries could be identified. All but two fract ures of the femur, 8 of the 15 fractures of the pelvic ring and 17 of the 3 0 fractures of the acetabulum were treated by internal fixation. In 26 pati ents internal fixation was performed on both fracture components (in 17 pat ients this was done under the same period of anaesthesia). Postoperatively, a deep ve nous thrombosis in three patients, one deep wound infection and five (18.5%) iatrogenic neurological deficits had to be notified. In this s eries we could not identify any specific associated injuries and complicati ons as known for the floating knee or the floating elbow. The term floating hip is inprecise and misleading, and its use is not recommended. The treat ment of this fracture-combination follows the guidelines established for th e individual lesions.