Ballistic femoral neck fractures: Associated injuries and outcomes

Abstract

Background: Ballistic fractures of the femoral neck, rare injuries that overwhelmingly affect younger adults, pose significant challenges to the treating surgeon. However, there is limited literature that the treating surgeon can leverage to guide their treatment decisions. The goal of this study is to describe the demographics, associated injuries, outcomes, and complications associated with ballistic femoral neck fractures.

Patients and methods: This retrospective case series, performed at a single, academic, urban, level-one trauma center, evaluated patients with a ballistic fracture of the femoral neck (AO/OTA 31B) between 2003 and 2022. International Classification of Disease codes were utilized to identify patients in the electronic medical record. Chart review was performed to assess patient demographics, associated injuries, success rate of operative and nonoperative intervention, and post-operative complication rate and types.

Results: Seventeen patients were included (94 % male; median age 22.5 years). Median follow up was 12.2 months (range 1–84 months). Five patients (29 %) sustained a concomitant vascular injury. Eight patients (47 %) sustained an additional osseous injury. The median injury severity score was 9 (interquartile range 4–17). Thirteen patients were treated with operative reduction and fixation, 3 patients with incomplete fractures were treated nonoperatively, and one was treated with acute total hip arthroplasty (THA). Overall, 12 of 17 patients (71 %) healed their fracture or had an uncomplicated recovery after acute THA. Of the 13 patients treated with operative reduction and fixation, 8 (62 %) healed their fracture and 5 (38 %) developed one or more post-operative complications.

Conclusions: Nearly 1 in 3 patients with ballistic femoral neck fractures sustain concomitant vascular injury and almost half sustain another osseous injury. In this series, only 62 % of patients who underwent operative reduction and fixation healed their fractures, and nearly 40 % of patients treated with operative reduction and fixation developed a post-operative complication. Given the poor outcomes and high complication rates associated with these injuries, surgeons should counsel patients with ballistic femoral neck fractures accordingly. Further research into the optimal treatment of ballistic femoral neck fractures is needed.