Trochanter Minor Avulsion Fracture in an Old Patient: Greater Care in the Diagnosis of Hip Pain in the Elderly

Year 2016, Volume: 7 Issue: 4, 77 - 79, 01.10.2016

Erdal Uzun Alper Çıraklı Ali Eray Günay Mahmut Mutlu

Abstract

Introduction: Trochanter minor fractures are generally seen between the ages of 13 and 17 years due to sports injuries, while the physis line is open. They are less frequently seen in adults than in adolescents. In this study, an old patient is presented who was admitted to the emergency department twice in one day because of hip pain, and a trochanter minor fracture was detected.Case Report: An 86-year-old male was brought to the emergency department with complaints of right hip pain and difficulty in walking. On the patient’s first radiologic examination, we could not determine any pathology or fracture, and he was allowed to go home with an analgesic, bed rest, and a proposal of outpatient control. About 18 h after discharge, the patient was readmitted to the emergency clinic. On the second radiologic examination, a displaced fracture of the trochanter minor of the right femur was detected. After preparing the patient for surgery, the trochanter minor was stabilized with a cable and plate system.Conclusion: Physicians must be more careful on the first examination of hip pain in the elderly and because secondary femoral neck fractures can occur in older patients without any underlying etiology, we suggest that prophylactic surgery must be a choice as the treatment strategy

Keywords

Trochanter minor, avulsion fracture, geriatric patient, treatment

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