Femoral Neck Fracture in a Military Trainee

Charles G. Blake, Michael D. Ross

DOI: 10.2519/jospt.2008.0409

The patient was a 22-year-old male with progressively worsening left hip pain for the past 5 days. He had been evaluated by a physician and diagnosed with an inguinal hernia and an adductor strain. Radiographs were not ordered, but he was given crutches due to an antalgic gait. At his initial physical therapy evaluation, 5 days after onset of pain, the patient was unable to bear weight on his left lower extremity. Based on the patient's history and physical examination, the physical therapist was concerned about the possibility of a hip fracture. Pelvic anterior-posterior and lateral frog leg radiographs were ordered, and the radiologist's report was significant for a displaced left femoral neck fracture. The patient was referred to an orthopaedic surgeon and underwent open reduction internal fixation on his left hip the next day. In this case, despite the recent history of pain and the insensitivity of radiographs to the early changes associated with a stress fracture, the fracture was visible on radiographs and it did not require further imaging.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2008;38(9):578-578. doi:10.2519/jospt.2008.0409

KEY WORDS: hip, lower extremity, radiograph

The patient was a 22-year-old male with progressively worsening left hip pain for the past 5 days. At his initial physical therapy evaluation, 5 days after onset of pain, the patient was unable to bear weight on his left lower extremity. Pelvic anterior-posterior and lateral frog leg radiographs were ordered, and the radiologist's report was significant for a displaced left femoral neck fracture.

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