From Jonathan Cluett, M.D.,
Your Guide to Orthopedics.
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About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by Kate Grossman, MD

Because of the weakened bone seen on the previous x-ray, this patient sustained a pathologic fracture of the femur (thigh bone) just below the hip joint. After cancer had weakened the bone in this patient, the weight of her body was eventually too much to support. Now the bone had been fractured, and surgery needs to be performed.

A pathologic fracture occurs when the bone is weakened by some condition (cancer, infection, and osteoporosis are just some causes of pathologic fracture). See how this patient is treated on the next page...