Fracture Neck of Femur / Femoral Neck Fracture

Glossary

Osteoporosis: A disease in which bones become thin, weak and are easily fractured.

Stress Fracture: Fracture occurring in bone subject to repeated stress.

Compression Fracture: Fracture caused by compression.

Osteopenia: Reduced bone mass.

Open reduction and Fixation: Surgical correction of a bone-break, in contrast with simple splintage or other rigid immobilisation.

Prostheses: Artificial substitute used for a missing or defective part.

Replacement Arthroplasty: Surgical method of removing and replacing a joint or bone.

Rehabilitation: Treatment for an injury or illness aimed at restoring physical abilities.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A painless method using magnetic fields for taking pictures of internal organs.

Bone Scan: A technique to create images of bones on a computer screen or on film. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into a blood vessel and travels through the bloodstream; it collects in the bones and is detected by a scanner.

Pathological Fracture: A fracture that would not otherwise occur were it not for pathological weakening of the bone due to osteoporosis, metastasis, infection, metabolic disorders or other systemic disease.