Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal 2018;12(1):54-56

doi:10.5704/MOJ.1803.013

Surgical Fixation of a Comminuted Inter-Trochanteric Fracture in a Patient with Bilateral Below Knee Amputation

Lee BH 1 ; Ho SW ; Kau CY

Affiliations

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Keywords

hip fracture; amputation; comminution; traction

Country

Malaysia

Language

English

Abstract

Surgical fixation of hip fractures in patients with below kneeamputation is challenging due to the difficulty in obtainingoptimal traction for reduction of the fracture. Surgeons mayface difficulty in positioning such patients on the tractiontable due to the absence of the foot and distal lower limb.There are several techniques described to overcome thistechnical difficulty. In this case report, we present a case ofa 64-year old gentleman with bilateral below kneeamputation presenting with a comminuted rightintertrochanteric fracture. We highlight a simple andeffective method of applying skin traction to obtain adequatereduction for hip fracture fixation.