Neglected Pipkin's fracture dislocation with bilateral femoral shaft fractures: an unusual combination

A hip fracture dislocation with contralateral femur fracture is a rare combination. We report a case of neglected posterior dislocation of hip with Pipkins-II femoral head and medial condylar fractures associated with a contralateral femoral shaft fracture. Right hip joint was approached via the Kocher-Langenbeck, following reduction, femoral head fragments were fixed with two 4-mm cannulated cancellous screws with open reduction internal fixation plating of ipsilateral femoral condylar fracture and closed reduction internal fixation nailing of left femur in the same sitting. Immediate postoperative X-rays were satisfactory. Postoperative period was uneventful. Over 7-year follow-up, patient is successfully performing his duties with X-rays bearing no signs of avascular necrosis (AVN) or hip arthritis. Thus, complex femoral fractures require a multidisciplinary approach for successful treatment. Early congruous reduction, anatomical fixation and early rehabilitation help in reducing the incidence of AVN and postoperative arthritis. Successful diagnosis of Pipkin's fracture dislocations requires use of CT, MRI and ultrasound in adjunct to X-rays.