Fractures of the femoral neck.

The ideal treatment of the intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck still is subject of discussion. The demographic development of the population in Europe with fractures of the neck of femur being typical in the older patient, requires conclusive and stringent concepts of treatment. Adequate and patient oriented therapy should be promoted, regional differences and provisional deficiencies need to be adjusted in order to minimize the rate of complications. The guideline "Schenkelhalsfraktur" of the German board of trauma surgeons, the 'Deutsche Gesellschaft für Unfallchirurgie', and the article at hand are meant to serve as a manual for the trauma surgeon. Based on evaluated data it simplifies rational decision-making for treatment of fractures of the proximal femur. Moreover, secondary prophylaxis as well as the subsequent outpatient treatment and the social reintegration of the patients recovering from fractures of the femoral neck remains vital- ly important. After all, even with ideal treatment of the fracture more than half of the patients are impaired for a long time and one out of four permanently depends on nursing assistance.