What is a femoral neck fracture?
The femoral neck is one of the most common locations where a hip fracture is caused. Your hip can be referred to as a ball and socket joint where your upper leg is meeting your pelvis.
At your femur top which is your thigh bone is the femoral head. This is the “ball” that is sitting in the socket. Just below the femoral head, there is the femoral neck located.
Femoral neck fractures are a type of intracapsular fractures. The capsule is the area containing the fluid that nourishes and lubricates the hip joint. Fractures in this area are categorized depending on the fracture location along the femoral neck,
· Sub capital - which is the femoral head and neck junction
· Transcortical - which is the mid-portion of your femoral neck
· Basicervical - which is the femoral neck base
Though anyone can have a femoral neck fracture, it’s more observed in elderly adults with poor bone density. Approximately more than 90 percent of these fractures develop in people who are older than 50. Besides, this condition is more common in women.
A femoral neck fracture will be tearing the blood vessels cutting off the supply of blood to the femoral head. This bone tissue will die and the process is known as Avascular Necrosis.
This will result in the eventual collapse of the bone. Fractures that are observed in the places where the blood supply is not interrupted have always a better chance of healing.
Due to these reasons, treatment for an elderly patient having dislocated femoral fractures may depend upon the break location and the blood supply quality.
The standard of care for a displaced fracture where the blood supply is interrupted includes replacing the femoral head. If there’s no total displacement of the head, then invasive stabilizing the fracture with the help of screws or other hardware might be performed. However, there’s still the risk of disruption of the blood supply.
What is a femoral neck fracture?
The femoral neck is one of the most common locations where a hip fracture is caused. Your hip can be referred to as a ball and socket joint where your upper leg is meeting your pelvis.
At your femur top which is your thigh bone is the femoral head. This is the “ball” that is sitting in the socket. Just below the femoral head, there is the femoral neck located.
Femoral neck fractures are a type of intracapsular fractures. The capsule is the area containing the fluid that nourishes and lubricates the hip joint. Fractures in this area are categorized depending on the fracture location along the femoral neck,
· Sub capital - which is the femoral head and neck junction
· Transcortical - which is the mid-portion of your femoral neck
· Basicervical - which is the femoral neck base
Though anyone can have a femoral neck fracture, it’s more observed in elderly adults with poor bone density. Approximately more than 90 percent of these fractures develop in people who are older than 50. Besides, this condition is more common in women.
A femoral neck fracture will be tearing the blood vessels cutting off the supply of blood to the femoral head. This bone tissue will die and the process is known as Avascular Necrosis.
This will result in the eventual collapse of the bone. Fractures that are observed in the places where the blood supply is not interrupted have always a better chance of healing.
Due to these reasons, treatment for an elderly patient having dislocated femoral fractures may depend upon the break location and the blood supply quality.
The standard of care for a displaced fracture where the blood supply is interrupted includes replacing the femoral head. If there’s no total displacement of the head, then invasive stabilizing the fracture with the help of screws or other hardware might be performed. However, there’s still the risk of disruption of the blood supply.
What are the causes of a femoral neck stress fracture?
A traumatic event is the most common reason for femoral neck fractures. Being above the age of 50 or having a medical condition due to which your bones are weakened like osteoporosis, will increase your risk of a femoral neck fracture. Having Bone Cancer is another cause of the condition.
Falls or injury is also a common cause of femoral neck fractures in older adults. In younger people, femoral neck fractures most often happen from high-energy trauma, like a vehicle collision or falling from a great height.
Femoral neck fractures in children are rare. Along with high-energy trauma, this can also be caused due to low bone mineral density, like osteopenia or osteoporosis, or by another condition such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy.
What are the causes of a femoral neck stress fracture?
A traumatic event is the most common reason for femoral neck fractures. Being above the age of 50 or having a medical condition due to which your bones are weakened like osteoporosis, will increase your risk of a femoral neck fracture. Having Bone Cancer is another cause of the condition.
Falls or injury is also a common cause of femoral neck fractures in older adults. In younger people, femoral neck fractures most often happen from high-energy trauma, like a vehicle collision or falling from a great height.
Femoral neck fractures in children are rare. Along with high-energy trauma, this can also be caused due to low bone mineral density, like osteopenia or osteoporosis, or by another condition such as muscular dystrophy or cerebral palsy.
What are the specific symptoms of a femoral neck fracture?
The most common symptom or sign of a femoral neck fracture is groin pain that may get worse when any weight is put on the hip or during rotation of the hip.
Having a femoral neck fracture, your leg might appear shorter than the unaffected or uninjured leg. Also, it may be externally rotated with your knee and foot turned outward.
What are the specific symptoms of a femoral neck fracture?
The most common symptom or sign of a femoral neck fracture is groin pain that may get worse when any weight is put on the hip or during rotation of the hip.
Having a femoral neck fracture, your leg might appear shorter than the unaffected or uninjured leg. Also, it may be externally rotated with your knee and foot turned outward.
