The treatment of sub-capital fractures of the neck of the femur.

ABDUCTION fractures of the femoral neck with a horizontal fracture line and impaction present no problem. The fracture may, however, disimpact with an external rotation force, so the patient should be kept in bed wearing a slipper fitted with an external rotation stop, or should partialweight-bear for at least two months. Alternatively, the fracture may be held by a trifin nail; this is the ideal, for the fracture is then stable to compression and rotation forces and no further protection is needed. Adduction fractures present an entirely different problem, and the treatment is operative, using one of three methods: Simple internal fixation with a trifin nail, complicated devices or methods of internal fixatiion, or replacement arthroplasty.