Pipkin classified fractures involving the femoral head using a simple scheme.
Parameters:
(1) fracture through the femoral head
(2) associated fracture
|
Fracture of Femoral Head |
Associated Fracture |
Type |
|
caudad to the fovea capitis femoris |
none |
I |
|
cephalad to the fovea capitis femoris |
none |
II |
|
caudad to the fovea capitis femoris |
fracture of the femoral neck |
III |
|
cephalad to the fovea capitis femoris |
fracture of the femoral neck |
III |
|
caudad to the fovea capitis femoris |
fracture of the acetabular rim |
IV |
|
cephalad to the fovea capitis femoris |
fracture of the acetabular rim |
IV |
where:
• The fovea (pit or depression) of the femoral head is the point for attachment of the ligament at its apex.
• According to the diagrams in Parker, Type I fractures are caudad to the axis running from the femoral neck through the fovea.
• According to the diagrams in Parker, a Type II fracture is perpendicular to the axis running from the femoral neck through the fovea. By its description it also appears to include those fractures cephalad to the axis running from the femoral neck through the fovea.
• I am not sure how to classify the case showing a fracture in both the femoral neck and acetabular rim. In the implementation I will classify these as Type IV.
Specialty: Surgery, orthopedic, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, Surgery, general
ICD-10: ,
