Byung-Ho Yoon1, Sung Bae Park. 1. 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul Paik Hospital, Seoul, South Korea2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, KEPCO Medical Foundation, KEPCO Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
Abstract
CASE: We present a rare case of insufficiency fracture at the level of the distal interlocking screw following union of an intertrochanteric hip fracture. A 74-year-old woman reported chronic thigh pain for 1 month. She had a history of an osteoporotic stable intertrochanteric fracture that was successfully treated with a short intramedullary nail 3.5 years prior. However, after union, the neck-shaft angle of the femur changed from 125° to 117°. She had been on alendronic acid therapy to prevent a secondary osteoporotic fracture. A recent radiograph and bone scan suggested an insufficiency fracture around the level of the distal interlocking screw. Revision surgery with a long intramedullary nail was performed, and complete union was observed 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that subsequent insufficiency fracture can occur after complete union of an intertrochanteric hip fracture. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of a stress fracture when a patient has thigh pain after an intertrochanteric fracture has healed following repair with a short intramedullary nail.
CASE: We present a rare case of insufficiency fracture at the level of the distal interlocking screw following union of an intertrochanteric hip fracture. A 74-year-old woman reported chronic thigh pain for 1 month. She had a history of an osteoporotic stable intertrochanteric fracture that was successfully treated with a short intramedullary nail 3.5 years prior. However, after union, the neck-shaft angle of the femur changed from 125° to 117°. She had been on alendronic acid therapy to prevent a secondary osteoporotic fracture. A recent radiograph and bone scan suggested an insufficiency fracture around the level of the distal interlocking screw. Revision surgery with a long intramedullary nail was performed, and complete union was observed 1 year postoperatively. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that subsequent insufficiency fracture can occur after complete union of an intertrochanteric hip fracture. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of a stress fracture when a patient has thigh pain after an intertrochanteric fracture has healed following repair with a short intramedullary nail.