Fractures In Young Adults Research Articles

Complications of femoral neck fractures : Dedrick D. K., MacKenzie J. R. and Burney R. E. (1986) Complications of femoral neck fractures in young adults. J. Trauma26, 932

Complications of femoral neck fractures : Dedrick D. K., MacKenzie J. R. and Burney R. E. (1986) Complications of femoral neck fractures in young adults. J. Trauma26, 932

Complications of Femoral Neck Fracture in Young Adults

Femoral neck fractures are uncommon but serious injuries in young adults, with high rates of nonunion and avascular necrosis reported. This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between the mechanism and severity of injury, anatomic site of fracture, health status, and method of therapy on the incidence of these complications in young adults. The hospital records of 32 skeletally mature patients between the ages of 15 and 50 years (mean, 33) treated for femoral neck fracture between 1975 and 1982 were reviewed, and data analyzed for the 25 patients with a minimum 2-year followup (mean, 61 months). Data pertaining to the cause of injury, fracture pattern, prior health status, overall injury severity, method of fracture treatment, and long-term outcome were analyzed. Nonunion of the fracture site was observed in five (20%); avascular necrosis in nine (36%). Of patients with subcapital fracture 83% developed nonunion or avascular necrosis, compared to 21% with true femoral neck fracture (p = 0.05). There was no difference in cause of injury, overall injury severity, degree of comminution, displacement, method of treatment, or prior health status between those with and without complications. In this study, high rates of nonunion and avascular necrosis were seen after all types of femoral neck fracture in young adults, but were more often associated with subcapital fracture. These complications of hip fracture appeared to be independent of health status, method of treatment, or mechanism or severity of injury.

Treatment of Neglected Femoral Neck Fractures in Young Adults

Sixteen young adults with neglected femoral neck fractures were treated from 1974 to 1981. The ages ranged from 16 to 43 years. The periods of delay after fracture were three months to two years. Most of the patients were initially treated by a "Chinese bone setter" with subsequent development of leg shortening, upward displacement of the distal fragment, and a variable degree of absorption of the femoral neck or head. Treatment included skeletal traction followed by open or closed reduction, internal fixation, or angulation osteotomy with or without bone graft. Two to eight years later, there were no cases of nonunion. Four hips developed avascular necrosis with one requiring still further surgical treatment. Thirteen patients (81%) had good to excellent results. Preservation of the patients' own hip joints was worthwhile. A defeatist attitude toward the "unsolved" fracture should be qualified.

Operative techniques of fixation for femoral neck fractures in young adults

RFK: Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Orthopedics, University of Minnesota, Assistant Chief, Hennepin County Medical Center.

Prognosis of the Femoral Neck Fractures in Young Adults

Prognosis of the Femoral Neck Fractures in Young Adults

Fractures of the femoral neck in patients between the ages of twelve and forty-nine years.

Femoral neck fractures in young adults have a poor prognosis because the incidence of non-union and aseptic necrosis is high. We reviewed the results in twenty-seven consecutive patients with a femoral neck fracture who were younger than fifty years and who were treated with a standard protocol at Harborview Medical Center from 1975 to 1981. There were twenty-two male and five female patients, and they ranged in age from twelve to forty-nine years (mean, 32.4 years). Twenty patients were involved in high-velocity trauma and twelve of them had significant injuries to other organ systems. One of the remaining seven patients had sustained the fracture while running, and in the other six the fracture was associated with a metabolic disorder. Eight patients had a Garden Stage-II fracture; twelve, Stage-III; and seven, Stage-IV. The fractures were fixed with multiple 6.5-millimeter cancellous screws after adequate closed reduction, which was usually performed within eight hours after injury. All of the fractures united and there were no wound infections. Aseptic necrosis of the femoral head developed in five patients (20 per cent), three of whom had symptoms at the time of writing and will require surgical revision of the hip.

Femoral Neck Fractures in Young Adults

Femoral Neck Fractures in Young Adults

Femoral neck fractures in young adults.

A total of 110 fractures of the neck of femur were studied in 108 patients 17 to 50 years old. The aims were to analyze why these fractures occur in young adults, and what results can be expected after internal fixation. Severe trauma caused about half of the fractures. In the remaining group chronic and disabling disorders were usually present at the time of injury. Seventeen patients were known to abuse alcohol. Aseptic necrosis with late segmental collapse occurred in 41 per cent of the hips (45/110), comparatively more often in patients who were 45 years or younger. Only 16 of the 73 patients who were seen at follow-up (22 per cent) had a perfect result. It is concluded that femoral neck fractures in patients younger than 45 years occur because of significant trauma in a healthy subject, or minor trauma in subject with predisposing disease. The incidence of late segmental collapse is greater than in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures. A less satisfactory result can therefore be expected.

Femoral Neck Fractures in Young Adults

In 17 patients with femoral neck fractures who were between 15 and 40 years old the incidence of aseptic necrosis in patients followed more than 2 years was 18.7 per cent. The fracture was associated with other severe injuries in 40 per cent of the cases, probably reflecting the level of violence necessary to induce the fracture in young adults. Two of the 7 fractures treated with large-bore internal fixatives required secondary procedures to correct fracture displacement (this was not a complication with threaded devices). While the incidence of aseptic necrosis is no higher than that in other adult series, subsequent degenerative changes may supervene in many femoral neck fractures in this age group.

Displaced fracture of the femoral neck treated with a muscle-pedicle graft. With emphasis on the treatment of these fractures in young adults

Displaced fracture of the femoral neck treated with a muscle-pedicle graft. With emphasis on the treatment of these fractures in young adults