title: Treatment of ununited femoral neck fractures in young adults using low-intensity pulsed ultrasound: Report of 2 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Delayed union and non-union of displaced femoral neck fractures remains a difficult clinical problem for orthopaedic surgeons. In the physiologically young patient, every effort should be made to preserve the native hip joint. We present two cases of ununited femoral neck fractures in young adults who were successfully treated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) and showed satisfactory results. PRESENTATION OF CASE 1: A 41-year-old woman was involved in a motor vehicle crash and was diagnosed with displaced femoral neck fracture. Eleven months after internal fixation, a computed tomography (CT) scan revealed the presence of non-union of the femoral neck. LIPUS treatment was therefore initiated. After eight months, the fracture was completely consolidated. PRESENTATION OF CASE 2: A 39-year-old man was involved in a cycling accident and was diagnosed with displaced femoral neck fracture. Thirteen weeks after internal fixation, a CT scan revealed delayed union of the femoral neck. LIPUS treatment was therefore initiated. After six months, the fracture was completely consolidated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest use of LIPUS as a possible treatment approach for delayed union and non-union of displaced femoral neck fractures in young patients before considering further surgical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Sang Yang
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan. Electronic address: tniikura@med.kobe-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niikura
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwakura
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryosuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuroda
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-1, Kusunoki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurosaka
keywords: Delayed union; Femoral neck fracture; Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound; Non-union