Femur fracture

Background

Femur Fracture Types

Proximal

• Intracapsular
  • Femoral head fracture
  • Femoral neck fracture
• Extracapsular
  • Intertrochanteric femur fracture
  • Trochanteric femur fracture

Shaft

• Mid-shaft femur fracture (all subtrochanteric)

Differential Diagnosis

Hip pain

Acute Trauma

• Femur fracture
  • Proximal
    • Intracapsular
      • Femoral head fracture
      • Femoral neck fracture
    • Extracapsular
      • Intertrochanteric femur fracture
      • Trochanteric femur fracture
  • Shaft
    • Mid-shaft femur fracture (all subtrochanteric)
• Hip dislocation
• Pelvic fractures
  • Acetabular pelvic fractures
  • Open book pelvic fracture
  • Straddle pelvic fracture
  • Pelvic avulsion fracture

Chronic/Atraumatic

• Hip bursitis
• Psoas abscess
• Piriformis syndrome
• Meralgia paresthetica
• Septic arthritis
  • Septic arthritis of the hip (peds)
• Obturator nerve entrapment
• Avascular necrosis of hip

Diagnosis

Location of femur fractures

Proximal

• Imaging
  • Consider AP pelvis in addition to AP/lateral views to compare contralateral side
  • Consider MRI if strong clinical suspicion but negative x-ray

Mid-Shaft

• Plain xrays of femur

Management

• Most fractures, including all displaced, are treated with ORIF
  • Exception is isolated trochanteric fracture often does not require surgery
  • See individual pages for further discussion

• Type and cross/screen for pts at higher risk of hemorrhage:
  • Age > 75 yrs
  • Initial Hb < 12
  • Peritrochanteric fx
• Despite good care, 30-day all cause mortality is 22% and grows to 36% at one year

See Also

• Fractures (Main)