Femoral neck fracture in pregnancy-triggered sympathetic reflex dystrophy

BACKGROUND: Sympathetic reflex dystrophy is an uncommon cause of pelvic pai n not to be overlooked in pregnant women. CASE REPORT: At 8 months pregnancy, a 27-year-old woman complained of inval idating pain of the left hip. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis perf ormed the day after delivery evidenced a non-displaced fracture of the femo ral neck and a typical aspect of sympathetic reflex dystrophy. DISCUSSION: The true frequency of sympathetic reflex dystrophy during pregn ancy is probably underestimated. Approximately one hundred cases have been reported. The hip joint is involved in 9 out of 10 cases. Such localization s are uncommon outside pregnancy, accounting for 14 to 17% of all cases.