Risk Factors For Femoral Neck Fracture Nonunion

a radiolucent table with the patient in the supine position with slight knee flexion. This is particularly useful in an anterior approach. The standard surgical approaches include the traditional Watson-Jones anterolateral approach, which can facilitate implant placement. However, exposure and reduction of the fracture can be difficult in a large or obese patient. The anterior Smith-Petersen approach provides excellent exposure of the fracture and allows clamp placement directly perpendicular to the fracture plane. However, placement of hardware along the lateral border of the femur can be challenging (Figure 21-2A). A recently described modification of the anterior approach consists of adding a percutaneous or limited open lateral approach for hardware placement (Figures 21-2B and C).2 This combined approach technique is recommended because it allows an anatomic reduction under direct visualization as well as hardware placement through an accessory approach. Table 21-1 Risk Factors For Femoral Neck Fracture Nonunion