Bilateral femur fractures are associated with concomitant femoral neck fracture

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the rate of femoral neck fractures in patients who have sustained bilateral femur fractures compared to unilateral femur fractures.

Design and setting: A retrospective review of an institutional trauma database was completed at a single level 1 trauma academic medical center.

Patients: All patients treated for a femur fracture between May 1, 2018 and December 31, 2020 were included.

Results: Twenty-one patients sustained bilateral femur fractures (11%) and 166 sustained unilateral femur fractures. Fifteen associated ipsilateral femoral neck fractures were identified. Eight of the 15 (53%) associated femoral neck fractures were observed in patients who sustained bilateral femur fractures. Eight of the 21 patients with bilateral femur fractures, 42 fractures in total, had an associated ipsilateral femoral neck fracture (38% of patients; 19% of fractures, respectively), while only seven of the 166 patients (4%) with a unilateral femur fracture had an associated femoral neck fracture (p < 0.001). Of the 208 femur fractures, 19 (9%) were open fractures. Ten of the 21 patients with bilateral femur fractures, 42 fractures in total, were identified to have an open femur fracture (48% of patients, 24% of fractures), while only nine of the 166 (5%) unilateral femur fractures were open (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate an association between bilateral femur fractures, open femur fractures, and associated femoral neck fractures. Surgeons treating these injuries should maintain a high index of suspicion for associated ipsilateral proximal.

Keywords: Bilateral femur fractures; Femoral neck fracture; Open femur fracture.