Neck of femur fracture
Updates to Article Attributes
Neck of femur fractures (NOF) are common injuries sustained by older patients who are both more likely to have unsteadiness of gait and reduced bone mineral density, predisposing to fracture. Elderly osteoporotic women are at greatest risk.
Epidemiology
It is anticipated that the total number of hip fractures will exceed 6 million people in 2014 4. In patients aged between 65 and 99, femoral neck and intertrochanteric fractures occur with approximately the same frequency 7.
Pathology
Classification
Femoral neck fractures are a subset of proximal femoral fractures. The femoral neck is the weakest part of the femur.
Since disruption of blood supply to the femoral head is dependant on the type of fracture and causes significant morbidity, diagnosis and classification of these fractures is important.
Neck of femur fractures are considered intracapsular fractures (also called proximal femoral fractures). Intracapsular fractures include:
- subcapital: femoral head/neck junction
- transcervical: midportion of femoral neck
- basicervical: base of femoral neck
Further, severity of a subcapital fracture is graded by the Garden classification of hip fractures.
Mechanism
Most commonly 9:
- falls in the elderly
- significant trauma (e.g. motor vehicle collisions) in younger patients
In elderly patients, the mechanism of injury various from falls directly onto the hip to a twisting mechanism in which the patient’s foot is planted and the body rotates. There is generally deficient elastic resistance in the fractured bone 8.
The mechanism in young patients is predominantly axial loading during high force trauma 9, with an abducted hip during injury causing a neck of femur fracture and an adducted hip causing a hip fracture-dislocation.
Radiographic features
Plain radiograph
- Shenton’s line disruption: loss of contour between normally continuous line from medial edge of femoral neck and inferior edge of the superior pubic ramus
- lesser trochanter is more prominent due to external rotation of femur
- femur often positioned in flexion and external rotation (due to unopposed iliopsoas)
- asymmetry of lateral femoral neck/head
- sclerosis in fracture plane
- smudgy sclerosis from impaction
- bone trabeculae angulated
- nondisplaced fractures may be subtle on x-ray
Report checklist
- AP pelvis and lateral hip should be viewed because pelvic fractures can mimic clinical features of hip fracture
- trace Shenton’s line
- assess for symmetry, particularly note lesser trochanter (may indicate external rotation)
- bone trabeculae
- sclerosis
- smudge
Treatment and prognosis
Treatment of neck of femur fractures is important. Significant complications such as avascular necrosis and non-union are very common without surgical intervention. The treatment options include non-operative management, internal fixation or prosthetic replacement.
Internal fixation can be performed with multiple pins, intramedullary hip screw (IHMS), crossed screw-nails or compression with a dynamic screw and plate 9. Replacing the femoral head is achieved with either hemiarthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty.
The high morbidity and mortality associated with hip and pelvic fractures after trauma has been well documented. Prognosis is varied but is complicated by advanced age, as hip fractures increase the risk of death and major morbidity in the elderly 5-6,8.
The risk of AVN depends on the type of fracture. The Delbet classification correlates with the risk of AVN 12,13:
- type 1 (transphyseal): ~90% risk of AVN
- type 2 (subcapital): ~50% risk of AVN
- type 3 (basicervical/transcervical): ~25% risk of AVN
- type 4 (intertrochanteric): ~10% risk of AVN
As a general rule, internal fixation is recommended for young, otherwise, fit patients with small risk for AVN. While prosthetic replacement is reserved for fractures with a high risk of AVN and the elderly 10.
See also
-<a title="Pelvis (AP view)" href="/articles/pelvis-ap-view-1">AP pelvis</a> and <a title="Hip (horizontal beam lateral view)" href="/articles/hip-horizontal-beam-lateral-view-1">lateral hip</a> should be viewed because pelvic fractures can mimic clinical features of hip fracture</li>- +<a href="/articles/pelvis-ap-view-1">AP pelvis</a> and <a href="/articles/hip-horizontal-beam-lateral-view-1">lateral hip</a> should be viewed because pelvic fractures can mimic clinical features of hip fracture</li>
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