Deep-Vein Thrombosis in Patients With Fractures of the Femoral Neck†

Fifty patients with fractures of the femoral neck have been studied, using the 125I-labelled fibrinogen test for diagnosing deep-vein thrombosis (D.V.T.). There was an overall incidence of D.V.T. of 54 per cent in fractured limbs. In pertrochanteric fractures there was an incidence of 75 per cent and in subcapital fractures the incidence was 34 per cent. The radioactive fibrinogen test is a most useful method of screening for D.V.T. under the conditions presented by these patients.