Introduction

Fracture of the neck of the femur is a common indication for admission to trauma units [1]. Currently, the dynamic hip screw (DHS) is a common implant used in the fixation of extracapsular fractures of the proximal femur [2]. This involves positioning the patient on a fracture table and applying traction and rotation on the legs, after placing the feet in special boots fixed to the table. Therefore, positioning of patients with bilateral above-knee amputations is challenging, as their feet and part of their legs are missing.

A few methods have been described for patients with bilateral below-knee amputations undergoing fixation for intertrochanteric fractures [3, 4]. We describe a simple technique for patients with above-knee amputations to overcome this problem.

Case presentation

A 75-year-old Caucasian man presented to our hospital after falling from his wheelchair. He complained of pain in his right hip, and plain radiographs showed a minimally displaced intertrochanteric fracture of the right femur (Figure 1). He had bilateral above-knee amputations for peripheral vascular disease but no prosthetic limbs, and therefore, he was wheelchair bound. A dynamic hip screw was planned, but we were faced with the dilemma of positioning the patient on the fracture table.

Figure 1
figure 1

Preoperative plain radiograph of the pelvis showing the intertrochanteric fracture of the right femur.

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The patient was placed supine on the radiolucent table, as in the standard procedure. The stump of the unaffected hip was bound firmly to a gutter support and placed in abduction and flexion, allowing good access for the image-intensifier arm. The stump on the fractured-hip side was placed on the thigh support of the fracture table without any traction component attached. Retaining the radiolucent thigh support allowed easy access for the image intensifier and visualization of the hip joint in both anterior-posterior (AP) and lateral views (Figures 2 and 3). Because the fracture was minimally displaced, in situ fixation of the fracture was carried out without any obstruction or difficulty under image-intensifier control (Figure 4). If further reduction were necessary, an attempt at closed reduction could have been carried out with direct traction along the thigh stump or by pin traction in the stump if needed, as attachment of any sort of traction device is not possible in such a short above-knee stump.

Figure 2
figure 2

Photograph of positioning of the patient on the fracture table with supports and the image intensifier adjusted for anteroposterior radiographs.

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Figure 3
figure 3

Photograph of positioning of the patient on the fracture table with supports and the image intensifier adjusted for lateral radiographs.

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Figure 4
figure 4

Postoperative plain radiograph of the pelvis showing fracture fixation with a dynamic hip screw.

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Discussion

Patients with bilateral below-knee amputations and intertrochanteric fractures pose a special problem, as positioning them on the fracture table is difficult because of the absence of the feet and part of the legs.

The process of setting up the patient is important in achieving and maintaining fracture reduction while not causing skin injuries. Generally, the foot of the affected limb is put into a boot, and applying traction to this allows the fracture to be 'jacked out' and reduced. Internal rotation can then be applied if needed to achieve optimal fracture reduction. The unaffected limb is flexed at the hip and knee and strapped to allow the image intensifier to be moved into the groin region.

Closed reduction is preferred, but open-reduction techniques of such fractures have been described [3, 4]. However, this conventional method could not be used in our patient, who had bilateral above-knee amputations with short stumps (10 cm on the left and 12 cm on the right). So far, one relevant operation technique was published in the literature regarding closed reduction and fixation of such a fracture in a patient with a unilateral below-knee amputation [5, 6]. The authors describe flexing the knee and securing the padded stump to the inverted traction boot; the stump and knee act as a pseudo foot and ankle, thus allowing traction to be applied to the limb.

In the case of an above-knee amputation, even this technique cannot be applied.

Conclusion

Fixation of intertrochanteric fractures of the femur in patients with above-knee amputations is a difficult problem for the surgeon in terms of positioning on the operating table. We describe a simple technique to overcome this problem and offer the surgeon an option to use when a similar case is encountered in trauma practice.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.