To recognize the different types (posterior, anterior and obturator) of traumatic hip dislocations (THD) and their respective trauma mechanisms. The role of different radiological modalities and key anatomical landmarks will be discussed. The associated injuries and complications that are common with THD will be reviewed. We will present all types of THD with material from our own database.

Roughly 90 % of THD’s are in the posterior direction. -In case of a posterior hip dislocation, the mechanism of injury is usually a high energy trauma where an axial load is applied to the femur with the hip in flexion. Dashboard traumas are common. Around 10 % of THD's are in the anterior direction. -Anterior dislocation occurs with forced abduction with the hip in external rotation. An uncommon form of hip dislocation is obturator dislocation, or dislocation in the inferior direction with the femoral...

Shenton's line is formed by ramus superior of the liliac bone and the femoral neck. In case of hip dislocation, Shenton's line is disrupted. This case of posterior hip dislocation demonstrates cranialisation of the femoral head, very common in posterior dislocation. CT imaging of a patient with posterior hip dislocation. Try to draw Shenton's line on the right hip. This patient had an anterior dislocation of the right hip. Note that cranialisation is usually absent in anterior dislocation. CT imaging of a patient with an...

Traumatic Hip Dislocation usually occurs in the posterior direction as a result from a high energy trauma. Cranialisation of the hip on the AP radiograph is common. Less common forms of THD are: Anterior disclocation (10%). The hip may be positioned inferiorly on the AP radiograph. Obturator luxation (<1%), in which the femoral head is dislocated in the inferior direction and situated in the obturator space. Criss-cross dislocation (very rare): bilateral asymmetrical hip dislocation. Shenton's line is always disrupted with hip dislocation: Better clinical outcome...

Paul Ousema, MD is a second year Radiology resident. Robin Westerbeek, MD is a radiologist with specialisation in musculoskeletal and pediatric radiology. Both are working at the Deventer Ziekenhuis in The Netherlands.

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