Static intramedullary nailing as final treatment of pathological femoral fracture secondary to contaminated primary hydatid cyst: a case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Echinococcosis (hydatid cyst disease) in humans is a rare parasitic disease that primarily involves the liver and the lungs. Skeletal manifestation of the disease is seldom and often presents as a clinical and radiological problem. The contamination of the primary hydatid cyst complicates the treatment which is also difficult because of the invasive nature of bone involvement and the spillage of fluid with subsequent contamination seeding. We present a case of pathological femoral fracture secondary to contaminated primary hydatid cyst that has been finally treated with static intramedullary nailing. We highlight the importance of including the hydatid bone disease in the differential diagnosis of destructive bone lesions, and we suggest the intramedullary nailing as the final treatment of specific type of pathological fractures.