Occult acetabulum fracture. A case report.

Acetabular fractures that are radiographically occult are associated with insufficiency fractures, stress fractures, and fractures secondary to steroid-induced osteoporosis, usually affecting older patients after low-energy trauma. Occult acetabulum fractures in young patients are extremely rare. We discuss herein a case of an occult acetabulum fracture after high-energy trauma, in a young patient. This case illustrates the need for further diagnostic studies such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or bone scanning when, despite negative radiographic findings, groin pain is persistent.