Femur Fracture

Symptoms of a Femur Fracture

It is usually fairly obvious that the Femur has been fractured

• Severe pain in the thigh.
• There may be deformity (e.g. the leg at an angle or the injured leg appearing shorter than the other).
• Swelling.
• Inability to move the leg.

It is important to look out for signs of injury to other structures, such as blood vessels and nerves. These include:

• Immediate bruising.
• No pulse in the ankle.
• A cold or pale lower leg/foot.
• Tingling or numbness in the lower leg/foot.

Causes

Traumatic fractures occur from one specific force. It takes a lot of force to break the femur as it is a very strong, thick bone. For this reason, fractures of the femur are most frequently seen in road traffic accidents and falls from a great height. They are not frequently seen in sports.

They may occasionally be seen in the elderly, especially those affected by Osteoporosis. Due to the amount of force required, a broken thigh bone may be associated with other injuries or complications and should be thoroughly assessed.

Treatment of a Broken Femur

The type of treatment received depends on the extent of the damage and the age of the patient.

• In young children, casting the leg to immobilise it may be sufficient.
• In adults and adolescents, casting is not usually recommended unless the leg is placed in traction.

Due to the length of hospital stay required for this form of treatment, as well as early mobilisation improving healing time and reducing complications, this form of treatment is rarely used. Surgical fixation tends to be used most frequently. This may involve pinning or plating the two sections of bone together to aid healing and ensure alignment. Once the bone is healed, the plate or pins are usually removed.

Generally a thigh bone fracture will take 3-6 months to heal completely. A thorough rehabilitation programme should be undertaken to regain full movement, strength and balance.