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Updated: Jul 15, 2026

Imaging of the Microstructural Failure Mechanism in the Human Hip
Published on: September 29, 2023
Insufficiency fracture of the acetabulum without apparent trauma
Hiroyuki Hashidate1, Mikio Kamimura, Hiroyuki Nakagawa
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Suwa Red Cross Hospital, Suwa, Japan. hashidate4789@yahoo.co.jp
Abstract:
A 76-year-old woman presented history of left hip joint pain on walking, which occurred after she bent to move a planter. Plain radiographs showed no fracture. Bone scintigraphy revealed accumulation, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a low signal area on T1-weighted images. We diagnosed an insufficiency fracture and pain decreased naturally on conservative treatment. Insufficiency fracture of the acetabulum should be considered when elderly patients have hip joint pain. Magnetic resonance imaging and bone scintigraphy is most useful for the diagnosis.
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