[Femoral neck structure in hip fracture]

Abstract

Hip fracture occurs relating to fall and decreased mechanical integrity of the femoral neck. Mechanical strength of the femoral neck is determined by both bone mineral density and other factors such as bone quality and hip geometry. Histomorphometrical studies show that cortical thinning, regional hyper-mineralization, decreased osteocyte lacunae and microdamage accumulation occur in aged or fractured subjects, suggesting that bone quality contributes mechanical integrity of femoral neck. Recent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) studies revealed that hip axis length, longer in femoral neck fracture patients may contribute to the risk of femoral neck fracture.