Mnemonic

Femoral Head Blood Supply

A memory aid for why an intracapsular hip fracture risks avascular necrosis.

Expansion

Mainly the medial circumflex femoral artery, with the lateral circumflex femoral and the artery of the ligamentum teres

Expansion

  • Medial circumflex femoral artery - the main supply, via retinacular vessels that run back up the neck to the head
  • Lateral circumflex femoral artery - a smaller contribution
  • Artery of the ligamentum teres - a minor supply, important mainly in children

Because these vessels run along the neck, an intracapsular fracture threatens the head, whereas an extracapsular fracture usually spares it.