Inferior dislocation of the hip: a case series and literature review

Inferior hip dislocation is the rarest type among all hip dislocations. Very few cases have been reported in the English literature. Most of the earlier reported cases involves the pediatric age group. No single case series could be found in the English literature. We came across 4 cases of inferior hip dislocation with a varied age profile (range 10 to 56 years, mean 33.8 years). Patients with this disease usually complained of pain and kept the thigh flexed and abducted. The diagnosis can be confirmed by radiographs which reveal that the long axis of the femur varies in alignment with respect to the spine from parallel to an angle almost 90 degrees away from the axis. In our series, closed reduction was successful in all patients, either under sedation or general anaesthesia. Skin traction for a period of 6 weeks was applied in all of them and follow-up revealed pain-free, stable and mobile hips. In this study we present the details of these cases along with a review of literature discussing the various modes and mechanisms that produce inferior hip dislocation.