Stress Fracture of Neck of Femur
A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone or severe bruising of a bone which is caused by overuse and repetitive activities.
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Additional Information
Home Treatments
- Rest from aggravating activity
- A period of non-weight-bearing rest followed by a period of weight-bearing with avoidance of impact (running / jumping)
- Minimum of 6 weeks rest is required however this can be extended considerably depending on bony healing.
- A minimum of 6 weeks of loading after rest is completed to restore strength and function
Professional Medical Treatments
- ORIF (open reduction internal fixation) surgery with percutaneous screw fixation is indicated in these cases
1. tension side stress fractures
2. compression side stress fractures with fatigue line >50% femoral neck width
3. progression of compression side stress fractures
Physical Therapy Exercises
- Following the rest and non-weight-bearing period, physiotherapy exercises focus on addressing deficits in strength and function of the lower limb. This often involves restoring strength of the muscles that act on the hip and knee as well as ensuring balance and control through the lumbar spine, pelvis, knee and foot.
Prevention
- Gradual increases in load, especially when performing high amounts of running. Load increases often include amount of days per week, distance, training intensity, training surface and speed.