On the detectability of femoral neck fractures with vibration measurements

Abstract

A suspicion of a femoral neck fracture is a frequently recurring situation, especially in nursing homes. For the clarification of such a suspicion normally imaging techniques are used. Such equipment is expensive and therefore is located in hospitals. In addition to the costs, a transport causes stress for the patient. This pilot study is devoted to the question whether the detection of a femoral neck fracture with vibration measurements is possible in principal. For this purpose vibration measurements on a dead body with intact, with partially fractured and with complete cut femoral neck have been performed. The frequency response function has been determined for all combinations on both sides of the body. It turned out that there is a difference in the frequency response functions of the fractured bone with respect to the intact bone when shaker testing is used.