Unreduced anterior dislocation of the hip.

Anterior dislocation of the hip is uncommon compared with posterior dislocation. Thompson and Epstein (1951) collected 204 cases of dislocation of the hip from the Los Angeles Hospital records in twenty-one years. Of these, 180 cases were posterior whereas only eighteen were anterior. In the last ten years seven cases of anterior dislocation presented themselves to us. Three dislocationswereacute and were reduced on admission. The remaining fourwereold unreduced dislocations. Dislocations seen early are easily reduced by the well known manipulative methods. Old unreduced dislocations present much greater problems. A number of cases of unreduced posterior dislocation have been reported, but unreduced anterior dislocation is almost unheard of. Searching extensively in the literature the author has not come across any recorded case like those to be reported in this paper.