ArticleEFORT open reviews2018
The enigma of atypical femoral fractures: A summary of current knowledge.
Article in EFORT open reviews, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers.
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Who cites it
32 citing papers in PubMed, 49 citations in OpenAlex.
- Atypical Femoral Fractures Induced by Anti-Resorptive Medications.Current osteoporosis reports · 2026Review
- Intraoperative Intramedullary Photobiomodulation Therapy for Consolidation of Atypical Femoral Fractures in Elderly Women: A Pilot Study.Journal of stem cells & regenerative medicine · 2026Article
- Incidental Unilateral Lateral Cortical Hypertrophy of the Proximal Femur Following Low-Energy Trauma Without Prior Bisphosphonate Exposure: A Case Report.Case reports in orthopedics · 2026Article
- Asian Federation of Osteoporosis Societies 2025 consensus on atypical femoral fractures in patients with osteoporosis.Osteoporosis and sarcopenia · 2025Review
- Isolated Atypical Pedicle Stress Fractures in Patients on Prolonged Bisphosphonate Therapy: Report of Two Cases and a Literature-Based Proposal for Diagnostic Criteria.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Review
- Differences Between Atypical and Typical Subtrochanteric Fractures Due to Low-Energy Trauma.Cureus · 2025Article
- Article
- Using DEXA to diagnose impending atypical femoral fracture in an asymptomatic patient on long term bisphosphonates: A case report of a missed opportunity for fracture prevention.Clinical case reports · 2024Article
- Latent metabolic bone disease, skeletal dysplasia and other conditions related to low bone formation among 38 patients with subtrochanteric femoral fractures: a retrospective observational study.Osteoporosis international : a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA · 2024Observational
- A secondary atypical diaphyseal femoral fracture after intramedullary nailing for an atypical subtrochanteric femoral fracture: A case report.Trauma case reports · 2024Article
- Article
- A Quantification Method for Disorganized Bone Components: Application to the Femoral Shaft.JBMR plus · 2023Article
- Imaging of bone marrow pitfalls with emphasis on MRI.The British journal of radiology · 2023Review
- Different Pattern of T-Score Discordance between Patients with Atypical Femoral Fracture and Femur Neck Fracture.Journal of bone metabolism · 2023Article
- The role of the fracture liaison service in the prevention of atypical femoral fractures.Therapeutic advances in musculoskeletal disease · 2023Review
- Case Report - Short-term Bisphosphonate Use Associated Stress Fractures.Journal of orthopaedic case reports · 2022Article
- Bilateral atypical femoral fractures treated with compression hip screw and intramedullary nail fixation.Trauma case reports · 2022Article
- Plate osteosynthesis for atypical femoral fractures in patients with severely bowed femurs: comparing short versus long segment fixation - a case series.International journal of burns and trauma · 2022Review
- Core Decompression Combined with Intraosseous Ibandronate for Pre-collapse Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: Report of a Novel Technique, its Safety and Early Outcomes in Five Cases.Journal of orthopaedic case reports · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Atypical femoral fractures (AFF) are stress or 'insufficiency' fractures, often complicated by the use of bisphosphonates or other bone turnover inhibitors. While these drugs are beneficial for the intact osteoporotic bone, they probably prevent a stress fracture from healing which thus progresses to a complete fracture.Key features of atypical femoral fractures, essential for the diagnosis, are: location in the subtrochanteric region and diaphysis; lack of trauma history and comminution; and a transverse or short oblique configuration.The relative risk of patients developing an atypical femoral fracture when taking bisphosphonates is high; however, the absolute risk of these fractures in patients on bisphosphonates is low, ranging from 3.2 to 50 cases per 100,000 person-years.Treatment strategy in patients with AFF involves: radiograph of the contralateral side (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging should also be considered); dietary calcium and vitamin D supplementation should be prescribed following assessment; bisphosphonates or other potent antiresorptive agents should be discontinued; prophylactic surgical treatment of incomplete AFF with cephalomedullary nail, unless pain free; cephalomedullary nailing for surgical fixation of complete fractures; avoidance of gaps in the lateral and anterior cortex; avoidance of varus malreduction. Cite this article:
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