ARTICULAR PENETRATION IS MORE LIKELY IN GARDEN-I FRACTURES OF THE HIP

Plain radiographs show only two dimensions of a three-dimensional obje ct. On anteroposterior and lateral radiographs an implant may appear t o be safely within the head of the femur although surface penetration has occurred. We have attempted to identify this complication in the t reatment of fractures of the femoral neck and have analysed the positi on of a screw pr pin in the femoral head and neck on the basis of orth ogonal frontal and lateral radiographs. A retrospective analysis of 60 cases of osteosynthesis of fractures of the femoral neck confirmed th e risk of non-recognition of articular penetration or breaking of the cortex of the neck during surgery. Unrecognised screw penetration of t he hip was observed in 8% and of the posterior part of the neck in 10% , The risk differs according to the type of fracture: it is greater in the coxa valga produced by Garden-I fractures of the femoral neck.