Subchondral insufficiency fracture of the femoral head

CC Chan, A Li, WC Fan, LK Sun, HC Cheng, JCS Chan
Department of Radiology, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong

Subchondral insufficiency fracture of the femoral head is a recently recognised entity. There are a few cases reported in Japanese and Caucasian patients but none in the Hong Kong population. The condition typically occurs in elderly females with osteoporosis. Acute hip pain is the usual presentation. The patient may have concomitant insufficiency fractures elsewhere. Magnetic resonance imaging is usually required to make the diagnosis. The prognosis of the condition is unknown. Reported complications include rapid collapse of the femoral head and coxopathy. Joint replacement should be considered if conservative management fails.

Hong Kong Med J 2006;12:460-2

Key words: Femoral neck fractures; Osteoporosis