Fracture-dislocation of the hip: what does volumetric computed tomography add to detection, characterization, and planning treatment?

Traumatic hip fracture-dislocations are serious injuries and may lead to long-term disability even if managed correctly. Standard radiographic procedures have a limited value in fully evaluating a traumatized hip. Multidetector computed tomography is, today, a valuable diagnostic tool for the evaluation of patients with traumatic hip fracture-dislocation. This article reviews the mechanism, clinical presentation, diagnostic algorithm, imaging findings, and the treatment associated with hip fracture-dislocations. The role of volumetric computed tomography in detection, characterization, and planning treatment of these injuries is discussed.