[Traumatic hip dislocation with "spontaneous" reposition and re-luxation]

A case of traumatic hip dislocation with spontaneous reduction of the hip joint is presented. The patient was involved in a car accident, and characterized as multitraumatized. On admission to the Emergency Department there were no clinical signs of traumatic hip-dislocation, but because of the severity of the trauma an X-ray of the pelvis was performed and a fracture of the acetabulum diagnosed. The patient was taken to the operating theatre for surgery of several fractures of both upper and lower extremities. This was followed by control X-rays including both anterior-posterior and lateral views of the right hip. This demonstrated that the right hip was now dislocated. The dislocation was reduced. CT showed a larger fracture of the acetabulum, and this was treated with osteosynthesis. Patients with an unstable hip due to trauma, should as a general rule have the hip X-rayed in two planes. It is further suggested that in cases of severely traumatized patients X-ray of the pelvis should be routinely performed.