Uncommon Diagnosis: Addressing Femoral Neck Stress Fractures in Athletes

In a compelling case study highlighting the intricacies of athletic injuries, a 30-year-old professional surfer encountered a significant health challenge during a half marathon, revealing the complexities behind sports-related injuries even in high-performance athletes.

Initially presented with acute groin pain, the surfer was diagnosed with a left intertrochanteric line femur stress fracture and an incidental finding of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in the opposite hip.

This diagnosis challenges the common perception that femoral neck stress fractures (FNSFs) mainly affect military personnel or the elderly, broadening the scope of concern to include young, active individuals.

Femoral neck stress fractures are rare, constituting about 1%-2% of all such injuries, yet they are significant due to their potential for delayed diagnosis and severe complications.

The case underscores the necessity for heightened suspicion and early intervention, particularly in physically active populations engaged in high-impact sports. The surfer's treatment involved surgical left hip osteosynthesis, which was successfully performed without complications, illustrating the importance of appropriate and timely medical response.

The occurrence of FNSFs in a well-conditioned athlete like a professional surfer adds to the growing body of evidence that these injuries can happen to anyone involved in intense physical activities, not just the typically vulnerable groups.

Moreover, the presence of FAI complicates the clinical picture, suggesting that athletes may have underlying conditions that predispose them to such injuries. This case serves as a critical reminder for healthcare providers to maintain a broad differential diagnosis when evaluating athletes with hip or groin pain, especially as participation in high-impact sports continues to rise.

Check out the details of the full study here!