Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37328665›Full record

ArticleJournal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology2023

Pipkin type III femoral head fracture: which treatment strategy can be recommended?

Shanxi Wang, Xiaojun Yu, Bohua Li, Qing Ding, Tianqi Wang, Qin Li, Lei Liu, Hua Wu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Femoral head fractures systematic review and meta-analysis.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Trial
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  12. Pipkin fractures: fracture type-specific management.Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery · 2024
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Shanxi Wang *Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
Xiaojun Yu *Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
Bohua LiDepartment of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37# Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Qing DingDepartment of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
Tianqi WangDepartment of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
Qin LiDepartment of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37# Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Lei LiuDepartment of Orthopedics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 37# Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People's Republic of China. liuinsistence@163.com.
Hua WuDepartment of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China. wuhua@hust.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 51537004National Natural Science Foundation of China 81874002
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPipkin type III femoral head fractures are relatively rare injuries. Few studies have explored and described the treatment and outcomes of Pipkin type III femoral head fractures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) in treating Pipkin type III femoral head fractures.

methodsWe retrospectively reviewed 12 patients with Pipkin type III femoral head fractures who underwent ORIF from July 2010 and January 2018. The complications and reoperations were recorded. The visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, Harris hip score (HHS), Thompson-Epstein criteria, and SF-12 score [including the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS)] were used for functional assessment.

resultsAmong the 12 patients, ten were males and two were females, with a mean age of 34.2 ± 11.9 years. The median follow-up time was 6 years (range 4-8 years). Five patients (42%) developed osteonecrosis of the femoral head, and one patient (8%) developed nonunion. These six patients (50%) underwent total hip arthroplasty (THA). One patient (8%) developed heterotopic ossification and underwent ectopic bone excision; this patient also presented with post-traumatic arthritis. The mean final VAS pain score and HHS were 4.1 ± 3.1 points and 62.8 ± 24.4 points, respectively. According to the Thompson-Epstein criteria, there was one patient (8%) with excellent, four patients (33%) with good, one patient (8%) with fair, and six patients (50%) with poor outcomes. The PCS score and MCS score were 41.7 ± 34.7 points and 63.2 ± 14.5 points, respectively.

conclusionLimited by the high incidence of osteonecrosis of the femoral head, it is difficult to achieve satisfactory functional outcomes when treating Pipkin type III femoral head fractures using ORIF, and a primary THA may be considered. However, for younger patients, considering the survivorship of prosthesis, ORIF may be recommended with the proviso that the patient is fully informed of the high complication rate associated with this procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Indexed as

Femoral FracturesHip FracturesOsteonecrosisAdultFemaleFemur HeadFracture Fixation, InternalHumansMaleMiddle AgedPainRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeYoung AdultFemoral head fracturesFemoral neck fracturesHip dislocationPipkin type III fractures

Identifiers

PMID37328665
PMCPMC10275838

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.