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Case Reports
. 2015 Dec 22:5:106-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.amsu.2015.12.053. eCollection 2016 Feb.

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head at 2 years after pertrochanteric fracture surgery: Case report

Bogdan Deleanu  1 , Radu Prejbeanu  1 , Dinu Vermesan  1 , Lucian Honcea  2 , Mihail Lazar Mioc  2 , Eleftherios Tsiridis  3 , Vlad Predescu  4
Affiliations
Case Reports

Avascular necrosis of the femoral head at 2 years after pertrochanteric fracture surgery: Case report

Bogdan Deleanu et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). .

Abstract

Introduction: The avascular necrosis of the femoral head represents the death of bone tissue due to the lack of blood supply. The disease has a progressive evolution and left untreated leads to femoral head collapse and severe arthritis.

Case presentation: We present a case of a pertrochanteric fracture which has been successfully operated with a dynamic interlocking trochanteric gamma nail on the right hip. At 2 years after surgery the patient developed an incipient avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Despite the good positioning of the implant, we considered that the source of the pain was an intolerance of the implant, and thus we removed it. After implant removal, the patient was kept under observation and conservative treatment, to prevent further damage to the right hip and allow the healing to occur. At 6 months after the gamma nail was removed the X-rays revealed advanced avascular necrosis of the femoral head and secondary osteoarthritis on the right hip. The patient underwent surgery with an uncemented total hip arthroplasty.

Discussion: There are a few discussions regarding the avascular necrosis of the femoral head. These discussions may include the predisposing risk factors, the treatment of choice and the postoperative complications.

Conclusion: The avascular necrosis of the femoral head is a complication of pertrochanteric fractures that can not be foreseen or avoided. The optimal treatment in these cases is uncemented total hip arthroplasty.

Keywords: Avascular necrosis; Gamma nail; Pertrochanteric fracture.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Preoperative antero-posterior radiograph.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Postoperative antero-posterior radiograph.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Antero-posterior radiograph at 6 months.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Antero-posterior radiograph at 2 years.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Antero-posterior radiograph after gamma nail was removed.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Antero-posterior radiograph at 6 months after gamma nail was removed.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Antero-posterior radiograph with uncemented total hip arthroplasty.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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