Parasymphyseal insufficiency fracture

Last revised by David Luong on 8 Mar 2022

Parasymphyseal insufficiency fractures are a subtype of pelvic insufficiency fracture. Like other insufficiency fractures, it is caused by normal or physiologic stress upon weakened bone.

Epidemiology

It prevails in elderly osteopenic or osteoporotic patients.

Associations
  • concomitant fractures in the pelvis 3

Radiographic features

Plain radiograph

Typically seen as vertically oriented linear areas of osteolysis along the junction of the superior and inferior pubic rami adjacent sclerosis adjacent to the pubic symphysis. They may be unilateral or bilateral.

Differential diagnosis

They can be occasionally misinterpreted as a malignant lesion 2.

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