Published online Feb 6, 2021. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i4.898
Peer-review started: October 12, 2020
First decision: November 8, 2020
Revised: November 17, 2020
Accepted: December 16, 2020
Article in press: December 16, 2020
Published online: February 6, 2021
Femoral head fracture is extremely rare in children. This may be the youngest patient with femoral head fracture ever reported in the literature. There are few pediatric studies that focus on cases treated with open reduction via the modified Hardinge approach.
A 14-year-old female adolescent suffered a serious traffic accident when she was sitting on the back seat of a motorcycle. A pelvic radiograph and computed tomography revealed a proximal femoral fracture and slight acetabular rim fracture. This was diagnosed as a Pipkin type IV femoral head fracture. An open reduction and Herbert screw fixation was performed via a modified Hardinge approach. After 1-year follow-up, the patient could walk without aid and participate in physical activities. The X-ray results showed that the fractures healed well with no evidence of complications.
Open reduction and Herbert screw fixation is an available therapy to treat Pipkin type IV femoral head fractures in children.
Core Tip: Femoral head fractures are extremely rare in children. We have reported an adolescent with a Pipkin type IV fracture treated with open reduction and screw fixation. Excellent clinical function and radiographic fracture healing were observed after 1 year.