Fractures of the femur in Paget's disease of bone. Their etiology and treatment.

Sixty-three fractures of the femur occurring in Paget’s disease of bone have been studied to elucidate the mechanism of fracture and to compare methods of treatment and results with those of other series. Although Paget’s disease is commonly symptomless, fracture, particularly of the femur, is one of the most frequent complications (Brailsford 1938, Lake 1951). Many small series offractures have been reported (Table I), but not until 1958 was a series ofas many as forty-one fractured femora described (Lake 1958). Barry (1967) has reported a further seventy cases, at the same time commenting on the high incidence of Paget’s disease in Australia. Nicholas and Killoran (1965) presented a series of twenty-three fractured femora from New York, but no other large series has been traced by the author.