Question:

Which of the following is NOT a complication of fracture of the neck of the femur?

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An intracapsular fracture with a poor blood supply dies or fails to unite, it does not heal in a deformed position.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
  • Non-union
  • Malunion
  • Avascular necrosis (AVN)
  • Osteoarthritis
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Fractures of the neck of the femur are intracapsular and disrupt the precarious blood supply to the femoral head. They are far more prone to serious complications than almost any other fracture, especially when there is displacement.

Step 2: The three classic complications are avascular necrosis of the femoral head (the most common, seen in 15-35% of displaced fractures), non-union (the second most common, 10-30% of displaced fractures), and secondary osteoarthritis of the hip that follows collapse of the femoral head.

Step 3: Malunion is NOT a recognised complication here. The fracture is intracapsular and bathed in synovial fluid, with very little surrounding periosteum and soft tissue, so healing in a deformed position (malunion) does not occur. Instead the bone either fails to unite (non-union) or the head dies (AVN).

Step 4: Hence the odd one out is malunion. AVN, non-union and osteoarthritis are all genuine sequelae.
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