Subcapital stress fractures of the hip complicating total knee replacement

Subcapital stress fracture of the femoral neck may complicate total knee replacement particularly if a large deformity has been corrected in a poorly mobile patient. This complication must be suspected in a patient presenting with ipsilateral hip pain following a total knee replacement as prompt diagnosis and internal fixation prior to fracture displacement is more likely to allow preservation of the patient's own femoral head.