Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Atypical Femoral Fractures

Young-Kyun Lee; Byung-Ho Yoon; Kyung-Hoi Koo

doi:10.4055/jkoa.2013.48.3.175

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Lee, Yoon, and Koo: Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Atypical Femoral Fractures

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Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association 2013; 48(3): 175-179.

Published online: 24 June 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4055/jkoa.2013.48.3.175

Epidemiology and Clinical Features of Atypical Femoral Fractures

Young-Kyun Lee, M.D., Byung-Ho Yoon, M.D., Kyung-Hoi Koo, M.D.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.

Correspondence to: Byung-Ho Yoon, M.D. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, 82 Gumi-ro 173beon-gil, Bundang-gu, Seongnam 463-707, Korea. TEL: +82-31-787-6265, FAX: +82-31-787-4056, cragy0215@naver.com

Received 24 January 2013 Revised 31 January 2013 Accepted 1 February 2013

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Atypical femoral fractures occur at the subtrochanteric or diaphyseal area, unlike typical hip fractures. Characteristics of atypical femoral fractures include their location in the subtrochanteric region and the femoral shaft, transverse or short oblique orientation, minimal or no associated trauma, a medial spike when the fracture is complete, and absence of comminution. The incidence of atypical femoral fracture is very low, and several studies have reported statistically significant association of long-term bisphosphonate therapy with atypical femoral shaft fractures; however, this has not been proven. We review the epidemiology and clinical features of atypical femoral fracture in the literature, and also discuss the association between atypical femoral fracture and long-term use of bisphosphonate.

Keywords: atypical femoral fracture, bisphosphonate, epidemiology, clinical feature

Figures and Tables

Figure 1

(A) Radiograph showing a typical intertrochanteric fracture in right hip. (B) Radiograph showing an atypical subtrochanteric fracuture in right hip.

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