Lateral fixation: an alternative surgical approach in the prevention of complete atypical femoral fractures

Abstract

Little evidence is available on how to treat incomplete atypical fractures of the femur. When surgery is chosen, intramedullary nailing is the most common invasive technique. However, this approach is adopted from the treatment of other types of ordinary femoral fracture and does not aim to prevent the impending complete fracture by interrupting the mechanism underlying the pathology. We suggest a different surgical approach that intends to counteract the underlying biomechanical conditions leading to a complete atypical fracture and thus could be better suited in selected cases. Here, we share an alternative surgical approach and present two cases treated accordingly.