Posterior Perspective of the Fractured Neck of the Femur

Description

Posterior anatomy of the proximal femur is rendered with the femoral head sitting medially and superiorly to the neck, and the greater trochanter projecting laterally as the dominant landmark. A fracture line traverses the femoral neck just inferior to the head, with the fragments displaced at the cervicocapital junction, consistent with an intracapsular femoral neck fracture. Posteriorly, the intertrochanteric crest and trochanteric fossa contour the proximal shaft, while the head remains the rounded articular segment oriented toward the acetabulum. Femoral neck fractures matter because displacement across the capsule puts the retinacular vessels at risk, the same branches that supply the femoral head via the medial femoral circumflex artery. That vascular jeopardy is why a displaced intracapsular fracture (often described in Garden III to IV terms) carries a real risk of avascular necrosis and nonunion, and why management often shifts from internal fixation with cannulated screws to hemiarthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty depending on physiologic age and activity. Posterior orientation helps communicate varus angulation and posterior tilt, details that influence reduction strategy and implant choice. A hard injury to ignore. Use this illustration in orthopaedics lectures on hip fracture patterns, in anatomy and radiology teaching to contrast intracapsular femoral neck fractures with intertrochanteric fractures, and in patient education materials explaining why certain fractures lead to arthroplasty rather than plate or screw fixation. It also fits well in surgical atlases discussing hip exposure and implant positioning where posterior bony landmarks guide orientation. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.