Collapsed subchondral fatigue fracture of the femoral head.

Several etiologies can lead to a subchondral fracture of the femoral head, which may result in femoral head collapse and degenerative change. This article evaluates the follow-up results of subchondral fatigue fractures of the femoral head in which femoral head collapse occurred. The study shows that collapsed subchondral fatigue fractures of the femoral head have a benign clinical course quite unlike that of collapsed osteonecrosis of the femoral head.