[Pathological fracture of the proximal femur and its therapy]

"Pathologic fracture" is understood as a discontinuity of pathologic bone caused by normal mechanical stress without adequate trauma. The pathologic condition of bone causing mechanical instability may be a general osteopathia (osteoporosis, osteomalacia, fibrous dysplasia, Paget's disease) or as well a localized one (primary or secondary bone tumors, tumor-like lesions, osteomyelitis). Following "pathologic fracture" pain and functional deficiency are severe, so besides diagnosis and treatment of basic disease conservative and often operative treatment of the pathologic fracture are necessary. The different procedures are discussed in relation localisation of pathologic fracture, basic disease and age of patient.