Short-term Results of Muscle-Pedicle Bone Grafting with Tensor Fascia Lata for Delayed Femoral Neck Fractures; Case Series and Literature Review

Neglected, untreated and delayed femur neck fractures are commonly encountered and the treatment dilemma arises especially when the patient is physiologically young and osteosynthesis is the preferred option. Controversy exists in the current literature as the various head salvage surgeries like valgus subtrochanteric osteotomy, non-vascularized fibular bone grafting, muscle pedicle bone grafting (Tensor fascia lata and Quadratus femoris graft) and vascularized bone grafting do not have clear lines of indications. The current study is a case series of 7 patients with femur neck fractures with delayed presentation beyond the vascular emergency period who were treated with osteosynthesis with muscle pedicle bone graft (MPBG) using tensor fascia lata muscle pedicle graft. Patients were followed clinical and radiologically at 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months, 1 year and 3 years and patients were regularly followed. The mean age of the patients was 47 ± 1.1 ranging from 38 to 55 years. There were 6 (85.7%) men and 1 (14.3%) women among the patients. Overall 5 (71.5%) patients had transcervical and 2 (28.5%) had subcapital fractures. At the end of 6 months, 6 (85.7%) patients were pain free and on plain radiographs fracture union was noted. One (14.3%) patient developed collapse and persistent nonunion. Younger group less than 50 years presenting with neglected fracture neck femur should always be give an option of head salvage surgery in selected cases. Muscle pedicle bone grafting has been proven although inconsistently as a valid option for fracture neck femur. We encourage osteosynthesis with the use of tensor fascia lata muscle pedicle grafting along with cancellous cannulated screws as a first option in selected cases of neglected femur neck fractures.