Management of Pediatric Femoral Neck Fracture

In the pediatric population, femoral neck fracture is a relatively uncommon injury with a high complication rate, despite appropriate diagnosis and management. The anatomy and blood supply of the proximal femur in the skeletally immature patient differs from that in the adult patient. Generally, these fractures result from high-energy trauma and are categorized using the Delbet classification system. This system both guides management and aids the clinician in determining the risk of osteonecrosis after these fractures. Other complications include physeal arrest, coxa vara, and nonunion. Multiple fracture fixation methods have been used, with the overall goal being anatomic reduction with stable fixation. Insufficiency fractures of the femoral neck, although rare, must also be considered in the differential diagnosis for the pediatric patient presenting with atraumatic hip pain.