Effective treatment of non-union after internal fixation of femoral neck fracture using integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine.

Abstract

Background: Hip fractures, particularly femoral neck and intertrochanteric fractures, represent approximately 6.37 % of all fractures, with incidence rates showing an upward trend annually.

Case presentation: This report presents a case of a 55-year-old female with a femoral neck fracture who underwent internal fixation. One-year post-surgery, the patient continued to experience hip pain, and computed tomography (CT) scans revealed non-union of the fracture. The patient received an integrated treatment approach combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine, involving the alternating administration of osteopeptide tablets and Guijia Jiangu capsules, a proprietary herbal formulation. No additional pharmacological or surgical interventions were employed. Seven months after initiating the treatment, digital radiography (DR) examinations showed that the fracture had largely healed. At the seven-month follow-up, and nearly four years thereafter, the patient reported no discomfort in the hip region. Subsequent DR examinations revealed no signs of avascular necrosis of the femoral head, and no adverse events were noted. The internal fixation device was removed five years post-fracture.

Conclusion: The results indicate that integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine may effectively treat non-union after internal fixation of femoral neck fractures, though further studies are warranted to confirm these outcomes.