Subcapital fracture
Last revised by Tariq Walizai
on 12 Jan 2025
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Shetty A, Walizai T, Worsley C, et al. Subcapital fracture. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 08 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-29709
Permalink:
rID:
29709
Article created:
16 Jun 2014,
Aditya Shetty
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Aditya Shetty had no recorded disclosures.
View Aditya Shetty's current disclosures
Last revised:
12 Jan 2025,
Tariq Walizai
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Tariq Walizai had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Tariq Walizai's current disclosures
Revisions:
13 times, by
10 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Synonyms:
- Subcapital fractures
- Subcapital femoral neck fracture
Subcapital fracture is the most common type of intracapsular neck of femur fracture. The fracture line extends through the junction of the head and neck of femur.
Classification
Although many classifications are proposed Garden classification and Pauwel classification are generally followed from a practical point of view as these two systems take into consideration the stability of the fractures.
Pre-reduction
Garden classification is based on the pre-reduction displacement of the femoral head. Further, the displacement is graded as per the position of the principal (medial) compressive trabeculae.
Types
type I: incomplete and undisplaced or impacted
type II: complete and undisplaced
type III: complete and partially displaced
type IV: complete and fully displaced
Types I and II are stable; types III and IV are unstable.
Post-reduction
Pauwel classification is based on post-reduction angulation of fracture line to the horizontal evaluated on a AP radiograph. Lesser the angulation more stable the fracture with a better a prognosis.
Types
type I: < 30 degrees
type II: 30-50 degrees
type III: > 50 degrees
ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads
Complications
Quiz questions
References
- 1. Adam Greenspan. Orthopedic Imaging. (2011) ISBN: 9781608312870 - Google Books
- 2. Sheehan S, Shyu J, Weaver M, Sodickson A, Khurana B. Proximal Femoral Fractures: What the Orthopedic Surgeon Wants to Know. Radiographics. 2015;35(5):1563-84. doi:10.1148/rg.2015140301 - Pubmed
- 3. Shen M, Wang C, Chen H, Rui Y, Zhao S. An Update on the Pauwels Classification. J Orthop Surg Res. 2016;11(1):161. doi:10.1186/s13018-016-0498-3 - Pubmed
Incoming Links
Articles:
Cases:
- Intramedullary femoral nail with subcapital neck of femur fracture
- Subcapital femoral neck fracture
- Garden IV femoral neck fracture
- Garden I femoral neck fracture
- Impacted femoral neck fracture
- Bilateral simultaneous femoral neck fractures
- Subcapital neck of femur fracture
- Femoral neck fracture - subacute
- Subcapital femoral fracture
- Subcapital fracture due to transient osteoporosis of hip
- Subcapital femoral neck fracture
- Subcapital femoral neck fracture
- Impacted subcapital fracture
Multiple choice questions:
Related articles: Fractures
-
fracture
- terminology[+][+]
- fracture location
- diaphyseal fracture
- metaphyseal fracture
- physeal fracture
- epiphyseal fracture
- fracture types
- avulsion fracture
- articular surface injuries
- complete fracture
- incomplete fracture
- infraction
- compound fracture
- pathological fracture
- stress fracture
- fracture displacement
- fracture location
- fracture healing[+][+]
- skull fractures[+][+]
-
facial fractures[+][+]
- fractures involving a single facial buttress
- alveolar process fractures
- frontal sinus fracture
- isolated zygomatic arch fractures
- mandibular fracture
- nasal bone fracture
- orbital blow-out fracture
- paranasal sinus fractures
- complex fractures
- dental fractures
- fractures involving a single facial buttress
-
spinal fractures[+][+]
- classification (AO Spine classification systems)
-
cervical spine fracture classification systems
- AO classification of upper cervical injuries
- AO classification of subaxial injuries
- Anderson and D'Alonzo classification (odontoid fracture)
- Roy-Camille classification (odontoid process fracture)
- Gehweiler classifcation (atlas fractures)
- Levine and Edwards classification (hangman fracture)
- Allen and Ferguson classification (subaxial spine injuries)
- subaxial cervical spine injury classification (SLIC)
- thoracolumbar spinal fracture classification systems
- three column concept of spinal fractures (Denis classification)
- classification of sacral fractures
-
cervical spine fracture classification systems
- spinal fractures by region
- spinal fracture types
- classification (AO Spine classification systems)
- rib fractures[+][+]
- sternal fractures
-
upper limb fractures[+][+]
- classification
- Rockwood classification (acromioclavicular joint injury)
- AO classification (clavicle fracture)
- Neer classification (clavicle fracture)
- Neer classification (proximal humeral fracture)
- AO classification (proximal humeral fracture)
- AO/OTA classification of distal humeral fractures
- Milch classification (lateral humeral condyle fracture)
- Weiss classification (lateral humeral condyle fracture)
- Bado classification of Monteggia fracture-dislocations (radius-ulna)
- Mason classification (radial head fracture)
- Frykman classification (distal radial fracture)
- Mayo classification (scaphoid fracture)
- Hintermann classification (gamekeeper's thumb)
- Eaton classification (volar plate avulsion injury)
- Keifhaber-Stern classification (volar plate avulsion injury)
- upper limb fractures by region
- shoulder
- clavicular fracture
-
scapular fracture
- acromion fracture
- coracoid process fracture
- glenoid fracture
- humeral head fracture
- proximal humeral fracture
- humeral neck fracture
- arm
- elbow
- forearm
- wrist
-
carpal bones
- scaphoid fracture
- lunate fracture
- capitate fracture
- triquetral fracture
- pisiform fracture
- hamate fracture
- trapezoid fracture
- trapezium fracture
- hand
- shoulder
- classification
- lower limb fractures
- classification by region[+][+]
- pelvic fractures
- hip fractures
- Pipkin classification (femoral head fracture)
- Garden classification (hip fracture)
- American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Cooke and Newman classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Johansson classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- Vancouver classification (periprosthetic hip fracture)
- femoral
- knee
- Schatzker classification (tibial plateau fracture)
- AO classification of distal femur fractures
- Meyers and McKeevers classification (anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture)
- tibia/fibula
- Watson-Jones classification (tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture)
- ankle
- foot
- Berndt and Harty classification (osteochondral lesions of the talus)
- Sanders CT classification (calcaneal fracture)
- Hawkins classification (talar neck fracture)
- Myerson classification (Lisfranc injury)
- Nunley-Vertullo classification (Lisfranc injury)
- pelvis and lower limb fractures by region
- pelvic fracture[+][+]
- sacral fracture[+][+]
- coccygeal fracture
-
hip
- acetabular fracture
- femoral head fracture
-
femoral neck fracture
- subcapital fracture
- transcervical fracture
- basicervical fracture
-
trochanteric fracture[+][+]
- pertrochanteric fracture
- intertrochanteric fracture
- subtrochanteric fracture
- femur[+][+]
- mid-shaft fracture
- bisphosphonate-related fracture
- distal femoral fracture
- knee[+][+]
- avulsion fractures
- Segond fracture
- reverse Segond fracture
- anterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- posterior cruciate ligament avulsion fracture
- arcuate complex avulsion fracture (arcuate sign)
- biceps femoris avulsion fracture
- iliotibial band avulsion fracture
- semimembranosus tendon avulsion fracture
- Stieda fracture (MCL avulsion fracture)
- patellar fracture
- tibial plateau fracture
- avulsion fractures
- leg[+][+]
- tibial tuberosity avulsion fracture
- tibial shaft fracture
- fibular shaft fracture
- Maisonneuve fracture
- ankle[+][+]
- foot[+][+]
- tarsal bones
- metatarsal bones
- phalanges
- classification by region[+][+]
- terminology[+][+]
Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.