The Journal of Arthroplasty
Volume 18, Issue 3 , Pages 377-382, April 2003

Insufficiency subchondral fracture of the femoral headReport of 4 cases and review of the literature☆☆☆★

  • M. Buttaro, MD

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Orthopaedics “Carlos E. Ottolenghi”
    • ,
  • A.González Della Valle, MD

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Orthopaedics “Carlos E. Ottolenghi”
    • ,
  • A. Morandi, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology
    • ,
  • M. Sabas, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology
    • ,
  • M. Pietrani, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • ,
  • F. Piccaluga, MD

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Orthopaedics “Carlos E. Ottolenghi”

Received 31 December 2002; accepted 8 November 2002.

Abstract 

Insufficiency subchondral fractures are nontraumatic flattened lesions in the superolateral area of the femoral head, occurring in healthy adults. These lesions were recently described and are an infrequent cause of acute hip pain. We report on 4 patients who were diagnosed with an insufficiency subchondral fracture. All the patients showed radiographic progression of the lesion after 4 months, and 3 patients required a total hip arthroplasty. The etiology and the natural history of these rare lesions remain to be elucidated. These lesions should be differentiated from osteonecrosis and transient osteoporosis, because treatment and prognosis may differ. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords:  insufficiency fracture, femoral head, subchondral fracture

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

☆ No benefits or funds were received in support of this study.

☆☆ Reprint requests: Francisco Piccaluga, MD, Institute of Orthopaedics “Carlos E. Ottolenghi,” Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Potosí 4215 (C1199ACK), Buenos Aires, Argentina.

★ 0883-5403/03/1803-0022$30.00/0

PII: S0883-5403(03)00020-2

doi:10.1054/arth.2003.50092

The Journal of Arthroplasty
Volume 18, Issue 3 , Pages 377-382, April 2003

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution