Stress fracture femoral neck: Definition, Uses, and Clinical Overview
Stress fracture femoral neck describes a small crack or structural failure in the femoral neck caused by repeated loading rather than a single major injury. The femoral neck is the short “bridge” of bone connecting the ball of the hip (femoral head) to the thigh bone (femoral shaft). This diagnosis is commonly considered in runners, military recruits, and active people with new groin or deep hip pain. It can also occur in people with reduced bone strength, where normal daily forces are enough to cause injury.