Ipsilateral Floating Hip and Floating Knee with Multiple Fractures - A Case Report

Floating hip and floating knee are high-velocity injuries associated with high mortality and morbidity. The occurrence of both floating hip and floating knee in the same limb is rare and requires proper resuscitation and orthopedic care for the management and for providing a functional limb to the patient.

A 32-year-old male presented with a history of road traffic accident and sustained ipsilateral acetabulum anterior column fracture, sacroiliac joint disruption, double segmental fracture of femur, and segmental fracture of tibia (left side). The patient also sustained head injury and abdominal injuries. The patient underwent a three-staged fixation of the fractures. External fixation of all the fractures was done as an emergency procedure. After the general condition of the patient improved, the acetabular injuries were managed surgically with fixation of the tibia in the same setting. The femur fracture was fixed in the end with a long proximal femur nail. The patient underwent adequate rehabilitation with return to full weight bearing at 4 months. All fractures healed at 6 months. At 18 months, the patient had no limitation of movements and his lower extremity functional score was 73/80 (91.3%).

Ipsilateral floating hip and floating knee are rare injuries. With early fixation and mobilization, we can ensure fracture union with better functional outcomes.