title: Delayed fixation of displaced bilateral, atraumatic, femoral neck fractures in a patient with pregnancy related osteomalacia.
abstract: We present the case of a woman diagnosed with simultaneous displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures following the birth of her second child. No traumatic event was identified. Diagnosis was delayed as the cause of her pain was thought to be non-skeletal in origin. Radiological and serological investigations were diagnostic of osteomalacia. Surgical fixation of her fractures was further delayed due to profound hypocalcaemia. Despite the delays, fixation with bilateral dynamic hip screws resulted in union with no evidence of avascular necrosis at 2 years follow-up. We believe this to be the first report of atraumatic bilateral femoral neck fractures and it shows that a good result can be achieved even in the presence of delayed fixation.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of North Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, UK. cdoc999@aol.com
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Docker
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Starks
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wynn-Jones
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006801:Humans; D010018:Osteomalacia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult