The Missing Piece: A Subtrochanteric Hip Fracture Presenting with Abdominal Pain: A Case Report

JBJS Case Connect. 2020 Jul-Sep;10(3):e19.00192. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.CC.19.00192.

Abstract

Case: A 33-year-old man presented with acute abdominal and left hip pain after being struck by a motor vehicle. Radiographs revealed a comminuted left subtrochanteric femoral fracture. Computed tomography demonstrated a large pelvic hematoma and a radiopaque mass in the abdomen. Laparoscopy revealed the mass to be a large bone fragment lying within the greater omentum. The bone fragment, which seemed to be a femoral fracture fragment, was removed, and the fracture was repaired with a short cephalomedullary nail.

Conclusion: Rarely, subtrochanteric fracture fragments can penetrate the pelvis or abdomen because of high-energy trauma. Recognizing this possibility is important to assure a correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / diagnostic imaging
  • Abdominal Pain / etiology*
  • Adult
  • Fractures, Comminuted / complications*
  • Fractures, Comminuted / diagnostic imaging
  • Hip Fractures / complications*
  • Hip Fractures / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed