Grand Rounds Vol 10 pages 74–77 Specialities: Orthopaedic surgery; Trauma surgery Article Type: Case Report DOI: 10.1102/1470-5206.2010.0016 ß 2010 e-MED Ltd An atypical femoral neck fracture: a management dilemma Rahul Kakkar and Xue Yan Jiang North Tyneside General, North Shields, NE29 8NH, UK Corresponding address: Rahul Kakkar, MRCS, North Tyneside General, North Shields, NE29 8NH, UK. Email: [email protected] Date accepted for publication 20 August 2010 Abstract Femoral neck fractures are common in the elderly and are broadly grouped into either intracapsular or extracapsular fractures. We report an unusual femoral neck fracture that had features of both and discuss the management of such a case. Keywords Femoral neck fracture; intracapsular; extracapsular; sliding screw; hemiarthroplasty. Introduction Proximal femoral fractures are generally classified as extracapsular or intracapsular depending on which side of the capsular attachment the fracture lies. This distinction is important for the correct management of these fractures as prosthetic replacement is recommended in elderly patients for a displaced intracapsular fracture of the neck of the femur[1,2]; undisplaced intracapsular and extracapsular femoral neck fractures are usually fixed internally with a compression device. We report an unusual fracture of the neck of the femur that starts within the capsule in the subcapital region superiorly and laterally and ends extracapsularly inferiorly and medially involving the calcar. Case report A fit and well 71-year-old woman, who was independently mobile, was admitted following a mechanical fall while out shopping. She complained of left hip and groin pain and on examination was found to have a tender, shortened and externally rotated left lower limb. Anterioposterior pelvic and lateral hip radiographs demonstrated an unusual pattern of fracture involving the intracapsular femoral neck and extracapsular trochanteric region (Figs. 1 and 2). The fracture started superiorly in the subcapital region and extended vertically down to exit in the lesser trochanteric region involving the calcar. The radiology report described this fracture as ‘‘an intracapsular fracture which crosses the intertrochanteric line’’. This fracture was treated with a dynamic hip screw (DHS-AO, synthes). Postoperatively, she received routine postoperative care and started full weight bearing on the first postoperative day. She was discharged from hospital without any complications and reviewed at regular 3-monthly This paper is available online at http://www.grandrounds-e-med.com. In the event of a change in the URL address, please use the DOI provided to locate the paper. An atypical femoral neck fracture: a management dilemma 75 Fig. 1. Pre-operative anterioposterior view. Fig. 2. Pre-operative lateral view. intervals for 2 years postoperatively. The radiograph at 2 years follow-up (Fig. 3) showed full union of the fracture with no clinical evidence of pain in the hip and the patient recovered to her full pre-fracture activity levels. Discussion Although fractures of the neck of the femur can broadly be classified as intracapsular or extracapsular, a fracture like this is difficult to put into any group. Moreover, this fracture type also poses a management problem, whether to treat it with osteosynthesis like an extracapsular fracture or with arthroplasty like an intracapsular fracture. The main argument in favour of arthroplasty in cases of intracapsular femoral neck fractures is the high incidence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head as the blood supply to it is disrupted in these fractures[1–3]. But in relatively undisplaced fracture like our case, the chances of avascular necrosis are significantly lower compared with displaced fractures[4] and it is reasonable to try and salvage the patient’s femoral head by fixing it rather than replacing it[5]. Furthermore, prosthetic replacement is associated with problems in such a fracture as it extends beyond the lesser trochanter involving the calcar and will leave a gap on the medial 76 R. Kakkar, X.Y. Jiang Fig. 3. Two years postoperatively. aspect, after a routine neck cut is made. If the neck cut is made at the lower level of the fracture line, it will remove part of the calcar, resulting in gross shortening, decreased offset and hence, increased chances of dislocation of the prosthetic hip. Therefore, the use of a calcar-bearing hemiarthroplasty is precluded in such a situation and the solutions left are either to do a collarless femoral stem hemiarthroplasty or to fix this fracture internally using a compression device such as DHS/CHS. The use of a collarless stem is not justified in this case as while cementing there will be gap on the medial side after the neck cut has been made through which cement could extrude out and could lead to an unstable prosthesis which might sink within the femoral canal. Also, the use of a collarless stem for a relatively undisplaced femoral neck fracture in a physiologically young patient is unjustified. On the other hand, the treatment of choice for extracapsular fractures is a compression device (DHS/CHS)[6] as the blood supply is good and the chances of non-union and avascular necrosis are minimal. This allows controlled collapse at the fracture site leading to compression and ultimately, bony union. One might argue that such a device might not work in a vertical fracture (Pauwel type 3)[7] because of high shear stresses and the risk of failure might be high. But, the sliding hip screw by virtue of its fixed neck-shaft angle may minimise shear at the fracture site[8]. Also, a recent study[9] has not found a high failure rate with internal fixation in these vertical fractures. All these studies were done in intracapsular neck of femur fractures and to our knowledge there are no reports of the treatment of a combined intra-/extracapsular fracture with a compression device (DHS/CHS). Also, the pattern of fracture in our case does lend itself to compression despite being vertical in orientation because the femoral neck changes its orientation from horizontal to semi-vertical as we approach the inferior part of fracture in the lesser trochanter. Thus, instead of producing shear it produces compression of the proximal (neck) fragment against the distal (trochanteric) fragment, thus helping bony union. We therefore did not replace the femoral head and internally fixed this fracture using a DHS with a view to producing compression at the fracture site to aid healing and accelerate rehabilitation and above all retain the patient’s own femoral head as she was a fit and well and active 71-year-old woman. The results at 2 years show the fracture to be fully united with no signs of avascular necrosis and the patient has no problems with leg length or gait. An atypical femoral neck fracture: a management dilemma 77 Teaching point The treatment of a fracture of this type does pose management problems and thought must be given to the procedure selected on an individual patient basis. References 1. Hui AC, Anderson GH, Choudhry R, Boyle J, Gregg PJ. Internal fixation or hemiarthroplasty for undisplaced fractures of the femoral neck in octogenarians. J Bone Joint Surg 1994; 76-B: 891–4. 2. Rogmark C, Carlsson A, Johnell O, Sernbo I. Primary hemiarthroplasty in old patients with displaced femoral neck fracture: a 1-year follow-up of 103 patients aged 80 years or more. Acta Orthop Scand 2002; 73: 605–10. 3. Bayliss AP, Davidson JK. Traumatic osteonecrosis of the femoral head following intracapsular fracture: incidence and earliest radiological features. Clin Radiol 1977; 28: 407–14. 4. Bentley G. Impacted fractures of the neck of the femur. J Bone Joint Surg Br 1968; 50: 551–5. 5. Browner BD, Levine AM, Jupiter JB, Trafton PG. Skeletal trauma: basic science, management and reconstruction. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders; 2003, p. 1730. 6. Stannard JP, Schmidt AH, Kregor PJ. Surgical treatment of orthopaedic trauma. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers; 2007, p. 575. 7. Rockwood CA, Green DP, Bucholz RW, Heckman JD. Rockwood and Green’s fractures in adults. 4th ed. Philadelphia, PA: JB Lippincott; 1996, p. 1659–1825. 8. Stannard JP, Schmidt AH, Kregor PJ. Surgical treatment of orthopaedic trauma. New York: Thieme Medical Publishers; 2007, p. 542. 9. Liporace F, Gaines R, Collinge C, Haidukewych GJ. Results of internal fixation of Pauwels type- 3 vertical femoral neck fractures. J Bone Joint Surg Am 2008; 90: 1654–9..