[Traumatic hip dislocation complicated by soft tissue interposition--a case report and review of the literature]

Traumatic hip dislocation is by far less common in children than in adults. It occurs 4 times more frequently in boys than in girls. The force of the trauma leading to hip dislocation can be surprisingly small. Incomplete reduction is mainly caused by soft-tissue interposition or fragments of cartilage from the acetabulum. In such cases an X-ray examination will reveal a lateral protrusion of the femoral head. CT scans and MRI investigation play an important role in further diagnostics of the patient. The paper presents the case of a 5 year old boy with traumatic hip dislocation complicated by soft-tissue interposition. After an unsuccessful attempt of closed reduction, the hip was reduced surgically. The interposing element was removed--part of the cartilagenous insertion (size: 3 x 3 mm) of the femoral head ligament. During a follow-up examination 10 months post-op no signs of necrosis nor loss of ROM were noted.