Magnetic resonance imaging in traumatic posterior hip dislocation.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to report the ability of a magnetic resonance image to document the integrity of the obturator externus tendon after posterior hip dislocation as a potential predictor for preserved femoral head vascularity.


METHODS
Retrospective radiographic and clinical pilot study.


METHODS
Level I trauma center.


METHODS
Nineteen consecutive patients with traumatic posterior hip dislocation. OUTCOME EVALUATION: Intraoperative correlation of soft tissue damage and radiographic assessment of avascular necrosis of the femoral head 3 years postinjury.


METHODS
Magnetic resonance imaging performed in the acute phase of posterior hip dislocation. Correlation with intraoperative findings during surgical hip dislocation and with avascular necrosis 3 years postinjury.


RESULTS
The obturator externus tendon was intact in all cases with preserved femoral head vascularity. After a 3-year follow up, there were no cases of avascular necrosis.


CONCLUSIONS
In this small series of patients, posterior hip dislocation did not imply a tear of the obturator externus muscle. An intact obturator externus tendon suggests preservation of the deep branch of the medial femoral circumflex artery to the femoral head.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. moritz.tannast@insel.ch
Moritz
M
Tannast
Frank
F
Pleus
Harald
H
Bonel
Howard
H
Galloway
Klaus A
KA
Siebenrock
Suzanne E
SE
Anderson
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005270:Femur Head / Q000098:blood supply; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006617:Hip Dislocation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013710:Tendons / Q000473:pathology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult