Subcapital fracture of the hip: a rare complication of intertrochanteric fracture of the femur.

Three cases of subcapital fracture of the hip that occurred after an intertochanteric fracture of the femur had been nailed have been described in the literature. The tip of the nail failed to penetrate the femoral head and a stress fracture occurred in two at the tip of the nail and in the other at the tip of a blade plate. This paper reports three further cases of this recently recognized and rare complication of intetrochanteric fractures. It is emphasized that the condition must be recognized and treated without delay.