A Barn Door: Fractured Neck of Femur

We present a case of a missed fractured neck of femur in a 59 year old lady, having been knocked over by a barn door. She presented initially to the Emergency Department fully weight-bearing complaining of hip pain. She returned five days later with deterioration of her symptoms and difficulty weight-bearing, despite continuing to work on her farm. X-rays revealed a Garden Type 3 subcapital fractured neck of femur. She subsequently underwent uneventful total hip arthroplasty. Delay in diagnosis occurs in up to 5% of hip fractures. The delay in diagnosis is discussed as are the guidelines for investigation for patients with hip fractures. INTRODUCTION Delay in diagnosis occurs in up to 5% of hip fractures (1, 2). The consequence of delay in diagnosis is not only continuing symptoms for the patient but also further displacement of the fracture and hence worsening prognosis (1, 2). The delay may occur from patients not presenting to the hospital immediately or misdiagnosis by the attending doctor. Our case highlights the fact that patients with an undisplaced fracture may continue to weight-bear and even perform fairly rigorous activities. Inevitably further displacement usually occurs with worsening of symptoms.