Pathological Fracture of Femoral Neck Associated to Femoral Head Osteonecrosis: Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: The osteonecrosis of femoral head is a progressive and devastating condition for the prognosis of the coxofemoral joint, with an increase in its prevalence and an etiology of multifactorial nature, and with compromise specially in young or middle age (20 to 40 years of age) patients [1-3]. The fractures associated to femoral head osteonecrosis are very rare, being the subchondral portion the site with a higher compromise, and the junction between the necrotic bone and the bone under remodeling process another site of potential fracture [4-7]. The management of this condition can vary from a conservative management to a surgical management with total hip arthroplasty, depending on patient’s clinic and the extension of his necrotic lesion. Discussion: This patient presents a sub-capital fracture of his femoral neck, associated to osteonecrosis of the femoral head. This patient was managed with decompression of the osteonecrosis nucleus plus bone graft and osteosynthesis with cannulate screws, in order to decrease bone hypertension and avoid femoral collapse. Conclusion: Although femoral neck fractures, as a complication from femoral head osteonecrosis are rare, in our patient such association can be found due to the worsening of his painful clinical features and the absence of a previous traumatic event, which allows discarding femoral osteonecrosis as a fracture complication.