Which of the following is the most common complication of an undisplaced fracture of the neck of femur treated with cannulated screws?

• A Screw breakage
• B Non-union
• C Wound infection
• D Avascular necrosis of the femoral head ✓

Explanation

Even in undisplaced fractures of the femoral neck, avascular necrosis remains the most dreaded complication because the retinacular blood supply may have been compromised at the time of injury despite good radiological alignment. The reported incidence of AVN after undisplaced femoral neck fractures treated with internal fixation is approximately 10–20%, underscoring the importance of follow-up. Non-union is the next most common complication in displaced fractures.

Reference: Maheshwari Essential Orthopaedics, 6th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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