The femoral neck is the narrow, angled portion of the femur that connects the femoral head to the shaft of the bone. It is a common site of fractures, particularly in elderly patients with osteoporosis. While X-ray and CT are the primary imaging methods for diagnosing femoral neck fractures, ultrasound has an emerging role in detecting hip joint effusion that accompanies occult fractures not visible on initial X-rays. On ultrasound, the femoral neck can be visualized as an echogenic, curved bony structure anterior to the hip joint, and fluid within the joint capsule that overlies the femoral neck may suggest an occult fracture or other pathology requiring further investigation.
Sonography Term