Last reviewed: 30 Sep 2024
Last updated: 09 Oct 2024
Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- inability to bear weight
- pain in affected leg/hip
- pain with hip movement
Full details
Other diagnostic factors
- shortened and externally rotated leg
Full details
Risk factors
- osteoporosis/osteopenia
- age over 65 years
- falls
- low body mass index
- female sex
- high-energy trauma
- medications
- ethnicity
- dementia
Full details
Diagnostic tests
1st tests to order
- plain x-rays
Full details
Tests to consider
- MRI pelvis (without contrast)
- CT pelvis (without contrast)
- technetium bone scan
Full details
Treatment algorithm
ACUTE
intracapsular (femoral neck) fracture
extracapsular (intertrochanteric) fracture
Contributors
Expert advisers
Forest W. Arnold, DO, MSc, FIDSA
Professor of Medicine
Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases
Director Infectious Diseases Fellowship Training Program
Department of Medicine
School of Medicine
University of Louisville
Louisville
KY
Disclosures
FWA declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Krishna Sundar, MD, FCCP
Associate Professor (Clinical)
Department of Medicine
University of Utah
Director
Pulmonary and Critical Care Research
IHC Urban South
Utah Valley Pulmonary Clinic
UT
Disclosures
KS declares that he has no competing interests.
Ozan Akca, MD
Director of Research
Associate Professor
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
Neuroscience and Anesthesia Intensive Care Unit
University of Louisville
Louisville
KY
Disclosures
OA declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Acetabular fracture
- Pubic rami fracture
- Femoral shaft or subtrochanteric femur fracture
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Prevention of surgical site infections after major extremity trauma: appropriate use criteria
- Perioperative management of antithrombotic therapy
More GuidelinesPatient information
Osteoporosis
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