Insufficiency femoral intertrochanteric fractures associated with greater trochanteric avulsion fractures.

Insufficiency fractures are often overlooked, particularly when associated with greater trochanteric avulsion fractures. Here, we report magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of insufficiency femoral intertrochanteric fractures associated with greater trochanteric avulsion fractures treated by internal fixation. We identified 8 patients (3 men and 5 women; age range, 58-92 years old). All cases used internal fixation devices. Operations were performed within 30 min with a total recorded blood loss within 50 ml. We studied MRI findings, hospital stay (number of days), the ambulatory status at hospital discharge, and complications. We were able to identify intertrochanteric fractures using MRI which we could not identify with radiographs. The average hospital stay was 28 days. Seven patients could walk with support and one patient could walk without support. There were no complications regarding the operation itself. Insufficiency femoral intertrochanteric fractures associated with greater trochanteric avulsion fractures were often overlooked. We successfully treated these fractures by internal fixation.