Publication:

Pipkin type I femoral head fracture managed by safe surgical dislocation through Gibson’s interval with Ganz trochanteric osteotomy: a case report

Femoral head fractures concurrent with posterior hip dislocations are rare and complex injuries that challenge conventional surgical exposure and fixation. This case significantly advances our knowledge for management of femoral head fractures. A 47-year-old male driver sustained a dashboard injury resulting in a posterior right hip dislocation, which was closed reduced at a local hospital. Imaging at our tertiary center confirmed a Pipkin type I femoral head fracture involving over 20% of the head. He underwent safe surgical dislocation through Gibson’s interval using the Ganz trochanteric flip osteotomy; the fragment was anatomically reduced with three 3.5‑mm headless cannulated screws, and the osteotomy was fixed using 6.5-mm cannulated screws. The Ganz approach facilitates anatomic exposure and fixation while preserving femoral head vascularity, making it a robust surgical method for such uncommon but technically demanding cases.