Femoral neck fracture in a child with autosomal-dominant osteopetrosis: failure of spica cast treatment and successful outcome by internal fixation

A case report of a 6-year-old child with autosomal dominant osteopetrosis who sustained a closed femoral neck fracture initially treated with a spica cast with subsequent fracture displacement is presented. Further treatment included closed reduction and operative fixation, first, with a guide pin placement for a cannulated screw insertion that was abandoned because of the hardness of the bone. Three Kirschner wires were then inserted to maintain the closed reduction, followed by immobilization in a spica cast. At the 2-year follow-up, the child was completely free of any complications resulting from her injury and treatment. Radiographs showed no evidence of avascular necrosis in the affected femoral head. Review of the literature supports evidence for early operative fixation of such cases, whether or not the femoral neck fracture is nondisplaced or displaced.