IntroductionExact knowledge of femoral neck inclination and torsion angles is important in recognizing, understanding and treating pathologic conditions in the hip joint. However, published results vary widely between different studies, which indicates that there are persistent difficulties in carrying out exact measurements.MethodsA three dimensional modeling and analytical technology was used for the analysis of 1070 CT datasets of skeletally mature femurs. Individual femoral neck angles and torsion angles were precisely computed, in order to establish whether gender, age, body mass index and ethnicity influence femoral neck angles and torsion angles.ResultsThe median femoral neck angle was 122.2° (range 100.1–146.2°, IQR 117.9–125.6°). There are significant gender (female 123.0° vs. male 121.5°; p = 0.007) and ethnic (Asian 123.2° vs. Caucasian 121.9°; p = 0.0009) differences. The median femoral torsion angle was 14.2° (-23.6–48.7°, IQR 7.4–20.4°). There are significant gender differences (female 16.4° vs. male 12.1°; p = 0.0001). Femoral retroversion was found in 7.8% of the subjects.ConclusionPrecise femoral neck and torsion angles were obtained in over one thousand cases. Systematic deviations in measurement due to human error were eliminated by using automated high accuracy morphometric analysis. Small but significant gender and ethnic differences were found in femoral neck and torsion angles.

Our results suggest that (1) none of the tested devices restore a comparable mechanical strength in the fractured specimens compared with the intact femurs, and (2) the "IT" possesses some biomechanical benefits for internal fixation of unstable femoral neck fractures compared with DHS and CS. Because the IT constructs failed with an inferior femoral neck fracture, complicating the mandatory anchorage of a prosthetic stem in a revision operation, more biomechanical experiments using the IT in the presence of a posterior comminution defect are required, along with clinical outcome studies.

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The results show different biomechanical properties of the HP and anatomic reconstructions.

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In comminuted Pauwels type III fractures, the fixation with the IT provided sufficient postoperative mechanical strength, comparable rate of femoral head displacement, and a similar tolerance of physiological loads compared to fractures without comminution. The absence of the posteromedial support in comminuted fractures tended to reduce the failure load regardless of the fixation method.