Acetabular reduction osteotomy using surgical dislocation of the hip joint for treatment of a malunited acetabular fracture

Introduction: Acetabular fractures remain a challenge for the orthopedic and trauma surgeon, with frequently poor outcome in terms of pain and lack of motion and high rate of posttraumatic arthritis especially in badly reconstructed fractures where the anatomy was not restored. Surgical treatment of malunited acetabular fractures is often necessary, although it can be very complex. Case presentation: We report a young woman who sustained both column fracture with central dislocation of the femoral head in which the posterior wall fragment was initially not fixed anatomically. Conclusions: Surgical dislocation of malunited acetabular fractures is a relatively new therapeutic option that provides full access to the femoral head and acetabulum without compromising the blood supply to the femoral head. Our results show that it can also be of great help in restoring malunited acetabular fractures.