The pathologic features and mechanism of traumatic dislocation of the hip.

The term traumatic dislocation of the hip encompasses a heterogenous group of dislocations, and more commonly, fracture-dislocations which have been subclassified. The current study describes the pathologic features in terms of an anatomic description of the displaced parts of the joint and what is known of the associated injured structures in each of the subtypes. The events that lead to traumatic dislocation of the hip are well documented, but understanding of the mechanics of the injury can only be presumptive.