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Complications with Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures: Aseptic Necrosis

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Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures

Abstract

The traumatic force that causes a femoral neck fracture can injure the vessels which perfuse the femoral head, resulting in aseptic necrosis of the femoral head. Non-traumatic etiologies for aseptic necrosis include alcoholism, corticosteroid use, or “idiopathic”. The main source of perfusion to the femoral head is the medial femoral circumflex artery. The pathophysiologic stages and the radiographic classification of aseptic necrosis are reviewed. Early treatment consists of core decompression with or without bone grafting. Vascularized bone grafting as well as proximal femoral osteotomy are other treatment options. Patients with recalcitrant pain due to advanced arthritis can be reliably treated with total hip arthroplasty.

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  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    Benjamin F. Ricciardi

  2. Department of Orthopedics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA

    John T. Gorczyca

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    John T. Gorczyca

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Ricciardi, B.F., Gorczyca, J.T. (2022). Complications with Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures: Aseptic Necrosis. In: Gorczyca, J.T. (eds) Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84444-8_7

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