Abstract
Introduction: We evaluated the follow-up results of subchondral fatigue fractures of the femoral head.
Methods: Between July 1999 and August 2005, 10 male patients presented with a collapsed subchondral fatigue fracture of the femoral head. The flattening of the femoral head was mild in 4 cases, moderate in 3 cases and severe in 3 cases. Three cases were misdiagnosed as osteonecrosis and since treated with multiple drillings or bone grafts. One case was treated with impaction bone grafting. The remaining cases were treated non-operatively. All patients were followed more than 2 years after onset of hip pain.
Results: At the latest follow-up, no patient had remarkable pain or disability limiting daily activity. Degenerative changes of Tönnis grade 1 were observed in 5 cases.
Discussion: Unlike collapsed osteonecrosis, collapsed subchondral fracture of the femoral head had a benign clinical course.
The abstracts were prepared by Lynne C. Jones, PhD. and Michael A. Mont, MD. Correspondence should be addressed to Lynne C. Jones, PhD., at Suite 201 Good Samaritan Hospital POB, Loch Raven Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21239 USA. Email: ljones3@jhmi.edu
