Trochanteric femur fracture

From WikEM
Jump to: navigation, search

Background

  • Greater trochanter
    • caused by direct trauma (older patients) or avulsion injury (adolescents)
  • Lesser trochanter
    • avulsion due to forceful contraction of iliopsoas (adolescents) or pathologic bone

Clinical Features

  • Greater Trochanter
    • Hip pain that increases with abduction; tenderness over greater trochanter
  • Lesser Trochanter
    • Patients usually ambulatory
    • pain in groin worse with flexion

Differential Diagnosis

Femur fractures

Proximal

Shaft

Evaluation

Location of femur fractures
  • Consider AP pelvis in addition to AP/lateral views to compare contralateral side
  • Consider MRI if strong clinical suspicion but negative x-ray

Management

  • Treatment for both types:
    • Non-weight bearing with ortho follow up in 1-2wk

Disposition

  • Outpatient

See Also

External Links

References