Case Report
Deep wound infection after a trochanteric fracture internal fixation presenting with hip dislocation: a case report
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* Corresponding author: Emmanouil Morakis manolismorakis@hotmail.com
1st Orthopaedic Department of 'Evaggelismos' General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Cases Journal 2010, 3:19 doi:10.1186/1757-1626-3-19
Published: 12 January 2010Abstract
We report a rare case of posterior hip dislocation after a low energy trauma. The patient sustained a trochanteric fracture in the same hip six months ago, which was fixed using a sliding hip screw and had healed. At surgery a deep wound infection was found and a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) was cultured. After thorough debridement, an excisional arthroplasty was decided. The patient received specific intravenous antibiotics and after six weeks a total hip arthroplasty was done. In three years follow-up the patients presented with a fully functional hip without any signs of infection. Hip dislocation after a trochanteric fracture internal fixation is rare complication associated with high morbidity and mortality. Infection eradication and a second stage arthroplasty can be life and limb saving.