Pseudopathologic hip fracture: anatomic explanation.
Fracture of the hip may result in external rotation of the femoral diaphysis. When this occurs the proximal diaphysis may appear homogeneously dense, particularly in elderly woman. Computed tomography shows that the misleading appearance is due to variations in cortical thickness anteroposteriorly and mediolaterally. This finding is important as this appearance of the femur must be distinguished from a pathologic fracture.
D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D012399:Rotation / Q000009:adverse effects; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed