Fracture Care · Hip & thigh
Hip fracture — Femoral neck fixation
Femoral Neck Fracture (Hip Fracture) — Internal Fixation with a Femoral Neck System
The condition
The femoral neck is the short segment of the thigh bone just below the ball of the hip. A break here can follow a fall or, in younger people, a high-energy injury. The neck carries the blood supply to the ball, so a break can damage it. It causes groin or hip pain and makes standing or walking very hard.
The surgery
Surgery is typically done soon after the injury to protect the blood supply to the ball. Through a small incision on the side of the hip, the bone is lined up and held with a femoral neck plate and screw system: a small side plate with screws and/or a larger bolt go up into the ball. Your own hip joint is kept. The final plan is determined during surgery.
Recovery at a glance
- Weight-bearing
- Touch-down weight (foot flat, ~20 lb) with crutches or a walker for 6 weeks; no hip precautions. Some older adults with a stable fracture may put full weight on it right away.
- Building up
- After the 6-week x-rays, weight is added ~25% each week to full by 10–12 weeks. Crutches, then a cane, are stopped once the limp is gone.
- Daily life
- Walk at least daily. No straight-leg raises for 6 weeks. Desk work often within 2–4 weeks. No driving while taking narcotic pain medication.
- Running
- Running and impact typically between 4 and 6 months, only after x-rays show the bone has healed.
- Recovery
- Full release typically 4–6 months. Report new groin pain or a limp right away, even up to 2 years after surgery.
A general guide. Your restrictions and timeline may change based on what is found and done at surgery.
Risks & benefits
Benefits: Fixing the break keeps your own hip joint, relieves pain, and lets you get up and moving. Risks are uncommon and include infection, blood clots, the break not healing or shifting, loss of blood supply to the ball (avascular necrosis) or collapse of the ball, a shorter leg, hip pain from the implant (which can be removed later), conversion to a hip replacement if healing fails, injury to nearby structures (such as nerves or blood vessels), stiffness, persistent pain, and the need for further surgery. These will be reviewed with you in detail before surgery.
Patient Surgical Information
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