Hip fracture presenting as isolated knee pain

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Geriatric Medicine
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Hip fractures are a common emergency department presentation.
• Typical symptoms include hip pain, trauma history, and characteristic physical findings.
• Atypical presentations can delay diagnosis and treatment.

Observation:

• A case of spontaneous hip fracture in an elderly woman is presented.
• The patient's primary symptom was isolated anterior knee pain.
• No history of significant trauma was reported.

Findings:

• The case highlights a spontaneous hip fracture with an unusual clinical presentation.
• Anterior knee pain can be the sole indicator of a hip fracture in specific cases.
• Delayed diagnosis can result from relying solely on typical hip fracture signs.

Implications:

• Recognizing atypical hip fracture presentations is vital for timely diagnosis.
• This case broadens the differential diagnosis for anterior knee pain in the elderly.
• Improved diagnostic accuracy can lead to better patient outcomes and reduced healthcare costs.