Subcapital fracture

Last revised by Yuranga Weerakkody ◉ on 19 Jun 2022

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Shetty A, Weerakkody Y, Liao H, et al. Subcapital fracture. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 05 Oct 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-29709

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-29709

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/29709

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:

19 Jun 2022, Yuranga Weerakkody ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Yuranga Weerakkody had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosures

Revisions:

13 times, by 5 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal, Trauma

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: is incomplete, stable and impacted
type II: complete, stable and undisplaced
type III: complete, unstable and partially displaced
type IV: complete, unstable and fully displaced

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.