CONSERVATIVE MANAGEMENT OF DISTRACTIONTYPE STRESS FRACTURES OF THE FEMORAL NECK

Four military recruits with complete distraction-type stress fractures of the femoral neck were treated conservatively. The radiographic diagnosis was made within two weeks of the onset of symptoms and the activities of the patients were matched to the clinical and radiographic progress of fracture healing. None of the fractures displaced and union occurred uneventfully. Our experience suggests that prophylactic internal fixation of these fractures is not necessary. Distraction-type stress fractures ofthe femoral neck tend to displace if the symptoms are not recognised (Kaltsas I 98 1), and the current view is that these fractures should be treated by immediate internal fixation (Devas 1975; Morris 1980). Our experience suggests that, if they are undisplaced, these stress fractures do not require internal fixation, provided that their programme of activity is matched to the progress ofbone healing.