Unreduced fracture-dislocation of the hip In a polytraumatlzed patient is usually the results of a traffic accident. Life threatening emergencies are dealt with first, and the solution of the hip problem is sometimes postponed or even neglected. The patients come for treatment several months after the accident.

Surgical reduction and acetabular reconstruction at thls stage are almost impossible because of acetabular bone loss, fibrosis, and avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Recent Concept is that total hip arthroplasty can be the solution for a patient suffering from a persistent unreduced fracture-dislocation of the hip. But it Is difficult to perform the procedure by a one-staged operation.

The authors report three cases of unreduced fracture-dislocation of the hip treated by total hip arthroplasty.