Bilateral Asymmetrical Hip Dislocations after Falling from Height: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Hip dislocations, constituting 2-5 percent of all joint dislocations, predominantly present as posterior dislocations. Bilateral hip dislocations are rare, accounting for 1.25% of cases. Associated fractures often involve the proximal femur and acetabulum.
Case Report: A 60-year-old man with no prior hip trauma history sustained bilateral hip dislocations after a 6-meter fall. Initial assessments and a hip computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed posterior dislocation of the right hip and anterior dislocation of the left hip. The patient underwent a successful closed pelvic reduction operation four hours post-injury, as confirmed by a post-reduction CT scan.
Conclusion: The study, encompassing 11 relevant studies and 208 patients, predominantly men (81%), revealed that asymmetrical bilateral hip dislocations were exceptionally rare (0.01-0.02 percent). Contrary to expectations, this study challenges the presumed stronger association of traffic accidents with bilateral dislocations, presenting a statistically significant association between the type of dislocation and trauma mechanism. Associated fractures, such as acetabulum fractures in unilateral cases and posterior edge fractures in bilateral cases, varied. Avascular necrosis (AVN), a common complication, was not observed in the current case, where reduction occurred within the critical 6-hour timeframe. This report contributes valuable insights into the characteristics and associations of asymmetric bilateral hip dislocations, emphasizing the importance of prompt intervention to mitigate complications. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore underlying patterns in this rare clinical scenario.