Hip dislocations are often associated with which fracture?

Hip dislocations are often associated with which fracture?

• A. Tibial plateau fracture
• B. Acetabular fracture
• C. Femoral neck fracture
• D. Calcaneus fracture

Answer: (B)

When the femoral head is forcibly driven out of the acetabulum, the same high-energy force often damages the socket itself. The acetabulum can fracture at the rim or the posterior wall during this event, so an acetabular fracture commonly accompanies a hip dislocation. This pattern is typical after severe trauma, such as car crashes or falls from height, because the joint and its socket share the same mechanism of injury. The other fractures listed involve different parts of the leg or foot and don’t have as direct a link to a dislocated hip, making an acetabular fracture the most likely associated injury.

When the femoral head is forcibly driven out of the acetabulum, the same high-energy force often damages the socket itself. The acetabulum can fracture at the rim or the posterior wall during this event, so an acetabular fracture commonly accompanies a hip dislocation. This pattern is typical after severe trauma, such as car crashes or falls from height, because the joint and its socket share the same mechanism of injury. The other fractures listed involve different parts of the leg or foot and don’t have as direct a link to a dislocated hip, making an acetabular fracture the most likely associated injury.