Successful Operative Treatment of a Displaced Subcapital Fracture of the Hip in Transient Osteoporosis of Pregnancy A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATIIRE*

Transient osteoporosis of the hip is an uncommon p r e v i o u ~ l ~. ' ~ ~ to my knowledge. Three of the fractures condition characterized by pain in the hip and pro- were non-displaced and the fourth, a displaced subcapi-nounced osteopenia of the femoral head and neck that tal fracture, was not treated until six weeks post partum, occurs during the third trimester of pregnancy2.The clin- when the osteopenia had resolved! 1 present the case of ical diagnosis can be elusive"', and the symptoms are a patient who had a displaced subcapital fracture of the FIG. 1 Postpartum anteroposterior radiograph of the pelvis. showing a displaced subcapital fracture of the right hip and pronounce the proximal part of the femur. often initially misinterpreted, leading to unnecessary tests and morbidity " Since the condition was described in 1959'. it has been reported in more than 500 patients in the French and English-language literature'.". Al-though a pathological fracture is considered to be the most serious complication of transient osteoporosis of the hip, only four such fractures have been reported *No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article. No funds were received in support of this study