Abstract

SELVEY, DM; SIBOTO, GM  and  WALTERS, J. Posterior fracture dislocation of the hip joint in motor vehicle occupants. SA orthop. j. [online]. 2009, vol.8, n.2, pp.21-23. ISSN 2309-8309.

Between July 1994 and January 2000 one hundred and ten posterior fracture dislocations in 109 patients presenting to Groote Schuur Hospital required open reduction and internal fixation. Motor vehicle accidents accounted for 88 (80%) of the injuries equally divided between drivers and passengers. Eighty-one per cent of comminuted grade III injuries occurred on the right side. Of these, 71.5% occurred in vehicle drivers. Only 48% of the simple fractures were right-sided and 64% occurred in passengers. We concluded that the driver of a motor vehicle is more likely to sustain a right-sided fracture dislocation which is of greater severity than other occupants. These findings should alert the motor industry to take steps to minimise this injury.

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