Opinion Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2021.
World J Orthop. Nov 18, 2021; 12(11): 811-815
Published online Nov 18, 2021. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v12.i11.811
Table 1 Pauwels’ classification of femoral neck fractures

Inclination of fracture line from horizontal
Predominant force at fracture site
Treatment (original classification)
Treatment (modern)
Risk of nonunion
Type I0-30Compressive forceNonoperativeInternal fixation vs arthroplastyLow
Type II30-50Shearing stressInternal fixationInternal fixation vs arthroplastyMedium
Type III> 50Significant shearing stress and varus forceValgus osteotomyInternal fixation vs arthroplastyHigh