What is the Difference Between Intracapsular and Extracapsular Fracture of Neck of Femur?

The main difference between intracapsular and extracapsular fractures of the neck of the femur lies in their location with respect to the hip joint capsule.

Intracapsular fractures occur:

Proximal to the point at which the hip joint capsule attaches to the femur.
These fractures are typically classified into sub-capital, transcervical, and basicervical fractures.

Extracapsular fractures occur:

Distal to the point at which the hip joint capsule attaches to the femur.
These fractures can be further divided into trochanteric (within the greater and lesser trochanters) and subtrochanteric (proximal to the lesser trochanter) fractures.

Another key difference between the two types of fractures is the risk of avascular necrosis (AVN) and nonunion. Intracapsular fractures, such as femoral head and neck fractures, have an increased rate of nonunion, which can lead to AVN. In contrast, extracapsular fractures, such as intertrochanteric fractures, have a good prognosis following surgery. Subtrochanteric fractures, however, have a high rate of implant failure.

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What is the Difference Between Intracapsular and Extracapsular Fracture of Neck of Femur?

Comparative Table: Intracapsular vs Extracapsular Fracture of Neck of Femur

Intracapsular and extracapsular fractures of the neck of the femur are two different types of hip fractures. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two:

Feature	Intracapsular Fracture	Extracapsular Fracture
Location	Occurs proximal to the point at which the hip joint is formed	Occurs distal to the point at which the hip joint is formed
Anatomical Localization	Inside the hip joint capsule	Outside the hip joint capsule
Etiopathology	Generally associated with osteopenia and osteoporosis in older patients and high-energy trauma in young patients	May be associated with lower energy trauma in elderly patients
Treatment	Often treated with specific surgeries	Treated with internal fixation devices such as dynamic hip screws (DHS) and intramedullary nails (IN)
Complications	AVN (Avascular Necrosis) rate depends on the age of the patient; 20% in patients younger than 60 years old, and 12.5% in patients between the ages of 60 and 80 years old	May have higher reoperation and complication rates, especially in unstable fractures

Both types of fractures may have similar clinical presentations, such as pain in the groin that radiates down to the thigh, inability to bear weight, etc.. They can be diagnosed through imaging tests and are predominantly treated by specific surgeries.

Guilherme Mazui

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.