Physical Manipulation-Induced Femoral Neck Fracture: A Case Report

Manipulative treatments for pain are very widely used nowadays by a variety of physicians. These treatment modalities are generally safe, but various studies have reported serious complications. This report presents the case of a 78-year-old male patient with a history of Parkinson’s disease, who was diagnosed with a right hip fracture that occurred as a result of physical manipulative treatment. He underwent a cemented hemi-arthroplasty as appropriate surgical treatment of his condition. Manipulative treatments can result in minor and major complications ranging from simple sprains and rib fractures to cerebrovascular accidents and death. The frequency of these events seems to be rare; however, no robust studies are present and further investigations are urgently needed. Hip fractures as a result of this treatment have not been previously mentioned. This is the first reported case in the literature of a hip fracture resulting from manipulative treatment. Primary care physicians and orthopedists should be aware of the possibility of this outcome and rule it out whenever necessary.