H.J. Kim, K.-H. Koo, and J. J. Yoo
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
Introduction: We evaluated the follow-up results of subchondral fatigue fractures of the femoral head.
Methods: Between July 1999 and August 2005, 10 male patients presented with a collapsed subchondral fatigue fracture of the femoral head. The flattening of the femoral head was mild in 4 cases, moderate in 3 cases and severe in 3 cases. Three cases were misdiagnosed as osteonecrosis and since treated with multiple drillings or bone grafts. One case was treated with impaction bone grafting. The remaining cases were treated non-operatively. All patients were followed more than 2 years after onset of hip pain.
Results: At the latest follow-up, no patient had remarkable pain or disability limiting daily activity. Degenerative changes of Tönnis grade 1 were observed in 5 cases.
Discussion: Unlike collapsed osteonecrosis, collapsed subchondral fracture of the femoral head had a benign clinical course.