Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2025
In Vivo Quantification of Hip Arthrokinematics during Dynamic Weight-bearing Activities using Dual Fluoroscopy
Published on: July 2, 2021
The floating hip injury: a descriptive study and case-control analysis
Mark Y Z Wong1,2, Marios Ghobrial1, Win M Han1
1Cambridge Orthopaedic Pelvic Unit (COPU), Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
Purpose:
A "floating hip" (FH) injury is a rare injury describing the simultaneous ipsilateral fracture of the femur and pelvis or acetabulum (P/A). We describe our experience with patients presenting with FH injuries and compare them to controls with similar P/A fractures but without femoral involvement.
Methods:
Medical records and radiographs of FH patients and controls presenting to our tertiary centre between 2015 and 2020 were reviewed. Follow-up data from outpatient clinical records were also extracted. The control group were extensively matched by age, sex, body mass index, fracture classification and energy of injury.
Results:
From 1392 recorded P/A fractures, 42 FH cases were identified (average age 39 years, 78.6% males). The most common femoral fracture was the midshaft (35.7%), followed by the neck of femur (26.2%). 90.5% of FH injuries were due to high-energy mechanisms. 64.3% of P/A fractures, and 100% of femoral fractures were managed surgically. Compared to controls, FH cases were more likely to have additional orthopaedic injuries (73.8% vs. 40.5%, p = 0.002), more total theatre admissions (mean 2.5 vs. 1.19, p < 0.001), longer hospital stays (28.3 vs. 14.9 days, p = 0.02), and a higher rates of post-op complications (53.8% vs. 20%, p = 0.025).
Conclusions:
We report differences in the presentation, management, and outcomes of FH injuries versus controls, even after extensive matching for confounders. These differences may inform future treatment strategies for the FH injury.
