The association between anterior femoroacetabular impingement and femoral neck fractures: An observational study

The impact between acetabulum and femoral neck is another possible mechanism of femoral neck fracture. Direct trauma of the greater trochanter may not be able to fully explain the mechanism underlying femoral neck fracture. In this study, we sought to investigate whether anterior femoroacetabular impingement are associated with femoral neck fractures. A total of 36 patients with femoral neck fracture who had undergone total hip arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty were included in this study. These patients were divided into 2 groups: labrum tear group and normal labrum group. Patients’ age, gender, body mass index, muscle injury, injury pattern, trauma severity, femoral head-neck offset, femoral head-neck ratio, Cam deformity alpha angle, acetabular anteversion, femoral head diameter, acetabular index, cortical index, hip axis length, and neck stem angle were recorded and analyzed. SPSS 18.0 software was used for statistical analyses. According to intraoperative findings, 22 patients exhibited a labrum tear. Magnetic resonance imaging examination revealed bone contusion on the anterolateral margin of the acetabulum with muscle damage surrounding the hip. Among 14 cases without a labrum tear, no bone contusion and obvious muscle injury were found on the anterolateral margin of the acetabulum. Notably, muscle injury, injury pattern, trauma severity and femoral head-neck offset differed significantly (P < .05) between labrum tear and normal labrum groups. Previous studies have focused more on direct lateral trauma. In this study, the impact between acetabulum and femoral neck is another possible mechanism besides lateral impact. Specifically, the abnormal anatomy of the hip, such as femoral head-neck offset, may promote the fracturing process.