OBJECTIVETo assess the interobserver agreement on Garden classification of fresh femoral neck fracture and management plan based on anteroposterior (AP) view and also assess if the addition of lateral view changes the classification and management plan.

METHODSTen orthopaedic surgeons were asked to classify 35 femoral neck fractures on AP view only and propose the management plan. Then the same films were reshown in conjunction with their lateral view after 10 days. Results were compared with respect to the classification and management plan between two groups. Interobserver agreement was calculated using Fleiss' kappa.

RESULTSThere was only a fair interobserver agreement (kappa value 0.39) on Garden classification on AP view only which improved to moderate agreement (kappa value 0.52) after adding a lateral view. While there was only a slight improvement in the interobserver agreement on the management plan on AP view only (kappa value 0.50) and AP combined with lateral views (kappa value 0.52). Supplementation of the lateral view changed the classification in 15.42% of the cases and altered the management plan in 23.14% of the cases.

CONCLUSIONWe conclude that lateral view should be obtained routinely on all patients with suspected femoral neck fracture as it definitely has a role in planning treatment of femoral neck fracture.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Observer Variation

Intracapsular fracture of femoral neck is treated by anatomical reduction (preferably closed) and cannulated cancellous lag screw fixation. Malunion of these fractures have been described in the coronal plane (coxa valga or coxa vara). We reported a case of young adult patient with displaced intracapsular fracture of femoral neck that had malunited in sagittal plane with callus formation with excellent functional outcome. The radiographs revealed intracapsular fracture of femoral neck right side (Garden type 4 and Pauwel type 3). The patient was operated and closed reduction and internal fixation with three cannulated cancellous screws was performed. The postoperative radiograph revealed a loss of reduction in the lateral view. Due to this technical error, the patient was counselled for revision fixation for which he refused. At 9 months we observed union of the fracture in the displaced position by callus formation. Harris hip score at 2 years was 96 that indicate excellent functional outcome and the radiographs did not reveal any evidence of avascular necrosis of femoral head. We advised revision surgery to our patient as he had increased chances of implant failure and nonunion. However he refused the revision surgery and was continued with the suboptimal reduction. However, the fracture united and that too with callus formation, which is not a described phenomenon in neck of femur fracture.
Adult ; Bone Screws ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Male