Simultaneous ipsilateral floating hip and knee: the double floating extremity—a systematic review and proposal of a treatment algorithm

Abstract

Purpose

To systematically review the currently available existing evidence related to the presentation and management of simultaneous floating hip and knee injuries to identify injury characteristics, treatment strategies, and complications.

Methods

Data sources: Relevant articles were identified by searching Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases with no language restrictions. Manual searches of other relevant databases (SciELO and grey literature databases) and reference lists of primary articles found from initial searches were also conducted.

Study selection: All types of study designs published from January 1st, 2000 to October 1st, 2022 involving skeletally mature patients with simultaneous floating hip and knee injuries were included. Data extraction: Basic information and specific injury-related information were collected.

Results

Eight case reports were included. No study adequately reported the case with sufficient detail to allow other investigators to make inferences, nor was the result properly calculated, nor was the follow-up considered adequate for adequate functional assessment to occur in 80% of the studies.

Conclusion

The exact treatment strategy and the follow-up time are not uniform across the included studies; therefore, they are not sufficient to adequately recommend surgical approach, timing of fixation, and fixation method. Our findings warrant the need for better documentation and reporting information about the mode of treatment of simultaneous floating hip and knee injuries.