Femoral neck fractures are commonly seen in elderly patients and are often referred to as insufficiency fractures since osteoporosis is a contributing factor.  The vast majority of these fractures result from minor trauma secondary to falls or torsion in an osteoporotic patient.  Fractures may also be pathologic from metastatic carcinoma.

There is a 10% incidence of ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture, of which 30% are missed on initial presentation.  The mortality rate in the elderly population ranges from 14-36% at 1 year following hip fracture.