Ipsilateral Fractures of the Femoral Neck and Shaft

Choy, Won Sik; Shin, Hung Dae; Kim, Whoan Jeong; Kim, Nam Hoon; Lee, Kwang Woo; Nah, Ki Seung

Abstract

The management of ipsilateral fractures of the femoral neck and shaft has proved to be a challenge to the orthopedist. Most major institutions have treatment protocols that emphasize early rigid stabilization of the femoral neck fracture to minimize the incidence of avascular necrosis of the femoral head and the shaft fractures were fixed prior to definitive neck stabilization. Whenever possible, patients should be followed for a minimum of three years to rule out aseptic necrosis of the femoral head. These dual fractures are usually encountered in the young, associated with high-velocity accidents and usually accompanied by multiple system trauma. At the department of orthopedic surgery, Eul Gi General Hospital, from June, 1986 to August, 1993, 21 cases of the concomitant ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures had been treated. The mean follow-up was 2.8 years(ranging from 1.6 to 5.8 years). The diagnosis of femoral neck fracture was delayed in two patients. Seventeen of the 21 cases underwent surgery had a relatively satisfactory functional outcome without complication of femoral head. In two patient, a symptomatic varus nonunion and varus malunion developed. In two cases, osteonecrosis of femoral head developed and one case of these patients was treated with Meyer techniqe of muscle pedicle graft. Our series emphasize that the recommended treatment consists of a closed intramedullary fixation of the femoral shaft fracture followed by ASNI screw fixation of the femoral neck fracture, with good long term functional results and minimum complication. And approaches to the treatment of concomitant femoral neck and femoral shaft fractures should be selected according to the skill and experience of the surgeon and the availability of equipment.