Femoral head diameter in sub capital fracture of the femur in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Abstract

Subcapital fracture of the femur is common in the elderly patients though the incidence is less in our environment than in the western world. Primary prosthetic replacement is the method of treatment in the majority of the patients. To facilitate this, a foreknowledge of the femoral head diameter is necessary. To determine the diameter of the femoral head and its magnification on radiograph among patients with hip fractures seen in South-West Nigeria, all patients with subcapital fracture of the neck of femur seen between March 1997 and February 2002 were included in the study. The femoral heads were measured on the radiographic film using a transparent ruler and after extraction of the femoral head during surgery using callipers. There were 25 patients in all, the mean age of patients was 73.2 years. Fall at home accounted for 70% of the cases. The femoral head diameter was between 42 mm and 50 mm in 92% of patients while magnification of femoral head diameter on radiograph was 10-14% in 92% of cases. The use of 10-14% magnification of femoral head on radiograph would help the surgeon determine the size of prosthetic head before commencement of surgery.