Delayed Osteonecrosis Following Reduction and Internal Fixation of a Femoral Neck Fracture

Osteonecrosis (ON) is a common complication following femoral neck fracture and most studies have reported the incidence of ON after less than 3 years follow-up. Here we report a case of delayed osteonecrosis 7 years after initial treatment for a femoral neck fracture. This example supports the need for continued clinical and radiographic follow-up over an extended period after femoral neck fracture and suggests that 3 years is too short a time to reliably rule out ON as a postoperative complication. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 15(2):86–89, 2006)