Pseudofracture of the neck of femur secondary to osteomalacia.
Nutritional osteomalacia is a metabolic bone disorder common among the Asian female immigrant population in the United Kingdom. We describe the case of a female of Asian origin, who was found to have a unilateral undisplaced pseudofracture of the neck of the femur during pregnancy. Although not operated on the fracture was treated successfully with calcium and vitamin D supplement therapy. Within one month of treatment, the bone pain subsided and she was able to bear full weight. Subsequent radiological follow-up showed the pseudofracture to have healed sufficiently with no evidence of avascular necrosis. There should be a high index of suspicion of this disease, particularly among Asian patients presenting with persistent and non-specific musculoskeletal pain.
Department of Orthopaedics, Newham University Hospital, Glen Road, Plaistow, London E13 8SL, UK.
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Lee
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Lashari
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D010018:Osteomalacia / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography