Femoral head fractures are very rare fractures of the upper end (femoral head) of the thigh bone (femur). They are a very rare kind of hip fracture that may be the result of a fall like most hip fractures but are more commonly caused by more violent incidents such as traffic accidents They are categorized according to the Pipkin classification based on the following bone fracture patterns:[1]
| Pipkin classification type
|
Description
|
| I
|
Fracture below the fovea; not involving weight-bearing surface of the head
|
| II
|
Fracture above the fovea; involving weight-bearing surface of the head
|
| III
|
Type I or II fracture with associated femoral neck fracture
|
| IV
|
Type I or II fracture with associated acetabulum fracture
|
See also
References
- ^ Pipkin, G. (October 1957). "Treatment of grade IV fracture-dislocation of the hip". The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume. 39-A (5): 1027–1042 passim. ISSN 0021-9355. PMID 13475403.
