Modified Hueter direct anterior approach for treatment of Pipkin type Ⅰ and Ⅱ femoral head fractures

Abstract

To discuss the effectiveness of the modified Hueter direct anterior approach in treatment of Pipkin typeⅠ and Ⅱ femoral head fractures. Between September 2014 and May 2016, 12 patients with Pipkin type Ⅰ and Ⅱ femoral head fractures were treated with the modified Hueter direct anterior approach. There were 8 males and 4 females, aged from 32 to 60 years (mean, 40.2 years). The disease causes included traffic accident injury in 9 cases and falling from height injury in 3 cases. According to Pipkin typing, 8 cases were rated as type Ⅰ and 4 cases as type Ⅱ. The interval of injury and admission was 2-28 hours (mean, 7.2 hours). Reduction was performed in all patients within 6 hours after admission, and then bone traction was given. The operation was performed in 3-7 days (mean, 4.3 days) after redution. The modified Hueter direct anterior approach was applied to expose and fix femoral head fractures by Herbert screws compressively. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded, and the effectiveness was evaluated according to the Thompson-Epstein scale at last follow-up. The operation time was 80-130 minutes (mean, 97.5 minutes), and the intraoperative blood loss was 100-200 mL (mean, 130.2 mL). All fractures achieved anatomical reduction and successful fixation. All 12 patients were followed up 12-32 months (mean, 24.3 months). All patients achieved bone union in 15-20 weeks (mean, 16.3 weeks) and no wound infection, lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury, osteonecrosis of the femoral head, or heterotopic ossification occurred. Traumatic arthritis occured in 3 patients. According to the Thompson-Epstein scale at last follow-up, the results were excellent in 5 cases, good in 5 cases, fair in 2 cases, and the excellent and good rate was 83.3%. The modified Hueter direct anterior approach has the advantages of clear anatomic structure, less trauma, and shorter operation time, and it can effectively expose and fix the Pipkin typeⅠ and Ⅱ femoral head fractures.