Revascularization of the femoral head by anastomosis of superior retinacular vessels for the treatment of femoral neck fracture: A case report

Microsurgery. 2016 Jul;36(5):426-429. doi: 10.1002/micr.30029. Epub 2016 Feb 20.

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to present a method of revascularization of the femoral head for the treatment of femoral neck fracture in a young adult. The patient is a 22-year-old male with the femoral neck fracture of Garden type III. We performed an open reduction with internal fixation of the fracture and repaired the superior retinacular vessels using microsurgical techniques to achieve revascularization to the femoral head. A desensitized-digital subtraction angiography examination showed that the blood supply from the superior retinacular artery to the femoral head was re-established three months after surgery. The X-ray showed that the femoral head had a normal shape without any necrotic lesions or sclerotic changes at four months follow-up and the bone achieved good union without redisplacement of the fracture site. This case showed that revascularization of the femoral head by microsurgery could be feasible in treatment of certain type of femoral neck fracture. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery 36:426-429, 2016.

Publication types

  • Case Reports