STRESS-FRACTURES OF THE FEMORAL-NECK

Stress fractures of the femoral neck are uncommon injuries, In general these injuries are seen in two distinct populations: (1) young, healt hy, active individuals such as recreational runners, endurance athlete s, or military recruits; and (2) the elderly who hare osteoporosis, St ress fractures can be classified as either fatigue or insufficiency fr actures and result from untoward cyclic loading or impaired bone quali ty, The key to treatment is early diagnosis, which may require scintig raphy or magnetic resonance imaging, Nondisplaced compression type str ess fractures can be treated nonoperatively with protected weightbeari ng and frequent radiographic followup. Tension type stress fractures s hould be stabilized internally to prevent the adverse consequences of fracture displacement.