Mapping of Vertical Femoral Neck Fractures in Young Patients Using Advanced 2 and 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography

Objective: To better describe the pathoanatomy of young patients' femoral neck fractures with the goal of improving surgeons' decisions for treatment including reduction and fixation. Design: This is a retrospective study of patient records, plain radiographs, and the modern computed tomography scans to study the pathoanatomy of Pauwels II and III femoral neck fractures (coronal angle >30 degrees) in young adults. Setting: One American College of Surgeons Level 1 trauma center. Patients: All patients 18-49 years of age with a surgically repaired Pauwels' II and III (>30 degrees) femoral neck fracture between 2013 and 2017. Methods: Fifty-six adult patients younger than 50 years were identified with a femoral neck fracture in the study period, of whom 30 met study criteria. We evaluated plain radiography and computed tomography data including fracture orientation, characteristics of fracture morphology including size, shape, and dimensions, comminution, displacement, and deformity. Results: Fracture morphology typically included a wide-based caudal head-neck segment (80%) that ends at a variable location along the medial calcar, sometimes as caudal as the lesser trochanter. Comminution was present in 90% of cases mostly located in the inferior quadrant, but anterior or posterior to the void left by the head-neck's caudal segment. The fractures orientations and deformities were reported by means and ranges. Conclusions: We investigated and reported on the pathoanatomy of high-energy femoral neck fractures in young adults with the goal of increasing understanding of the injury and improving surgeons' ability to provide for improved treatment decisions and quality fracture repair.

Automated summary

This retrospective study aimed to describe the pathoanatomy of femoral neck fractures in young patients, particularly focusing on Pauwels II and III fractures. The study identified common features such as wide-based caudal head-neck segment, presence of comminution, and various orientations and deformities of the fractures. The goal was to improve surgeons' decision-making for treatment.