A prognostic algorithm for assessment of subcapital femoral neck fractures

A new method for prognostication of non-union in subcapital femoral neck fractures is presented. From routine pre- and post-operative films from 112 patients with Garden stage 2, 3, and 4 fractures 4 parameters were obtained: Cranial displacement, orientation of the nail in the femoral head, depth of nail inserted, and attainment of perfect reduction. These 4 variables were combined into a simple algorithm capable of non-union prediction at various levels of certainty (74-100%).