Atypical femoral fractures: Another brick in the wall : On aspects of healing, treatment strategies and surveillance

Abstract: Atypical femoral fractures are stress fractures of the femoral subtrochanteric and diaphyseal region. It is a common notion that these fractures heal poorly, if at all. In this thesis we show that patients with atypical femoral fractures have a good capacity to generate bone and therefore heal fractures. In daily practice, these patients have a higher risk for reoperation when compared with patients with a normal femoral fracture. However, this risk is less likely to be dependent on the type of fracture than other factors such as age, gender, comorbidities and survival. Using an implant that protects the fragile proximal femur, the risk for reoperations can be attenuated dramatically. An intramedullary nail with fixation of the femoral neck protects the femur from subsequent hip fractures – the most common complication in elderly patients with any type of femoral shaft fracture.Atypical femoral fractures are difficult to identify in the population. Erroneous diagnosis coding, poor reporting of adverse drug reactions and low accuracy of radiology reports make the identification and surveillance a difficult task. The Swedish Fracture Register has provided the option to register this special fracture since 2015. With its physician-based registration process, it enables researchers and treating physicians to identify and follow these rare fractures longitudinally.