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

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Management
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Floating hip and floating knee are severe, high-velocity injuries.
• These injuries, when occurring together in the same limb, are exceptionally rare.
• Prompt resuscitation and specialized orthopedic care are critical for limb salvage and patient survival.

Observation:

• A 32-year-old male sustained ipsilateral acetabulum anterior column fracture, sacroiliac joint disruption, double segmental femur fracture, and segmental tibia fracture after a road traffic accident.
• The patient also had associated head and abdominal injuries.
• A three-staged surgical fixation was performed, starting with external fixation, followed by acetabular and tibial fixation, and concluding with femoral nailing.

Findings:

• The patient achieved full weight-bearing at 4 months post-injury.
• Complete fracture union was observed at 6 months.
• At 18 months, the patient demonstrated no movement limitations and a high lower extremity functional score (91.3%).

Implications:

• This case highlights that even severe, combined ipsilateral floating hip and knee injuries can be successfully managed.
• Early surgical intervention and comprehensive rehabilitation are key to achieving optimal functional outcomes.
• The findings support aggressive management strategies for these complex polytrauma cases.