Early diagnosis of femoral neck stress fractures using MRI: A case report and review of the literature

A 20-year-old male soldier with a compression type stress fracture of the right femoral neck was presented. He complained right hip pain and presented with the normal initial hip X-ray films. Early diagnosis was made using magnetic resonance image (MRI). The case was successfully managed without complication. If the diagnosis is missed or delayed, displacement of the stress fracture may develop, and serious complications such as avascular necrosis of the femoral head, nonunion and varus deformity may occur. It is important to suspect this injury and attempt early diagnosis with MRI in young active individuals who have recently performed vigorous repetitive activity, or have had an increase in frequency or duration of recurrent activity and complain of hip pain.