- Try physical therapy to regain your strength after surgery. Individuals suffering from a broken femur are encouraged to try exercises that may aid in strengthening the femur and restore ...
- Do hip and knee bends to strengthen the muscles. Doing hip and knee bends will increase the flexibility of your quadriceps and hamstrings, helping to restore mobility and function.
- Try static quadriceps contraction. This is a low-stress exercise that is good as a starting point for strengthening.
- Know that exercise will help the healing process. Exercise and muscle movement promotes good blood circulation and oxygen distribution to the affected area.
How long does it take to recover from a broken femur?
The majority of people who suffer a femur fracture receive specialized treatment in a long-term nursing or rehabilitation facility. Full recovery from a femur fracture can take anywhere from 12 weeks to 12 months; however, most people begin walking with the help of a physical therapist in the first day or two after injury and/or surgery.
What is the recovery time for a femur fracture?
What is recovery from a femur shaft fracture like?
- Pain Management. Pain after an injury or surgery is a natural part of the healing process. ...
- Weight bearing. Many doctors encourage leg motion early on in the recovery period. ...
- Physical Therapy. Because you will most likely lose muscle strength in the injured area, exercises during the healing process are important.
How long does pain last after femur fracture?
Most people who receive specialized treatment for a femur fracture are admitted in a long-term nursing or rehabilitation facility. Full recovery can take anywhere from 12 weeks to 12 months. Yet, many patients can start walking much earlier with the help of a physical therapist.
What happens if you break your femur?
One of the biggest dangers of femur fractures is developing blood clots in the body. When the femurs fracture, the bone marrow becomes exposed. The contents of the bone marrow can act as blood clots throughout the body. Dangerous blood clots can occur in: The brain called a stroke. The heart turned into a heart attack.
How long does it take to recover from a broken femur?
Recovery most often takes 4 to 6 months. The length of your recovery will depend on how severe your fracture is, whether you have skin wounds, and how severe they are. Recovery also depends on whether your nerves and blood vessels were injured, and what treatment you had.
Does a broken femur need surgery?
There are different surgeries, either internal or external, to hold the bones in place while they heal. The most common surgery for a broken femur is called intramedullary nailing. This surgery inserts a rod into the length of the bone with screws above and below to hold it into place.
Can you walk on a broken femur?
You usually will not be able to walk on it. If it's a severe fracture, the leg may be an odd shape and the bone may even be poking out of the skin. There may have been a "crack" sound when the leg was broken, and the shock and pain of breaking your leg may cause you to feel faint, dizzy or sick.
How long do you stay in the hospital with a broken femur?
Treatment methods included intramedullary nailing, open reduction and internal fixation, arthroplasty or other definitive fixation of femur fracture. Investigators used hospital length of stay as the primary outcome measure. Results showed patients had a median length of stay of 6.43 days.
What is the fastest way to heal a broken femur?
A diet rich in those nutrients, including dairy products, green vegetables, cod liver oil, certain fatty fish and eggs can help boost bone health and speed healing. Avoid smoking and alcohol: Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can have a negative impact on bone health.
How many hours does femur surgery take?
The surgeon makes a surgical cut on the side of your thigh. The metal plate or nail is attached with a few screws. This surgery takes 2 to 4 hours.
How serious is a femur break?
A broken femur is a serious injury that requires immediate medical care. Broken femurs are treated with surgery and physical therapy. It can take months for your broken femur to heal. You can break your femur by being in a car crash, falling or being shot.
How serious is a broken femur in the elderly?
A femur break is a serious break at any age but it can be deadly to seniors that are 65 years and older. The femur is the longest bone in the body. Femur breaks/fractures are most likely at the hip but in some cases can be at the lower extremities.
Can a 90 year old recover from a broken femur?
Conclusion: Surgery is the treatment of choice for patients aged 90 years and older with proximal femoral fracture. However, they have a lower rate of regaining pre-injury walking ability and a higher in-hospital death rate than younger patients.
How painful is a broken femur?
A femoral shaft fracture usually causes immediate, severe pain. You will not be able to put weight on the injured leg, and it may look deformed—shorter than the other leg and no longer straight.
How much blood do you lose when you break your femur?
Untreated fractures of the lower limbs can lead to significant blood loss, which may be external and obvious, or covert. The estimated blood loss for a closed fracture of the femur is 1000–1500 ml and for a closed fracture of the tibia is 500–1000 ml.
Why is a femur fracture life threatening?
Complications of a fractured femur can be serious, even life threatening in some cases. If the fracture has broken through the skin, the possibility for infection is increased. Severe injuries with profuse bleeding may lead to circulatory collapse or shock.
How serious is a broken femur?
A broken femur is a serious injury that requires immediate medical care. Broken femurs are treated with surgery and physical therapy. It can take months for your broken femur to heal. You can break your femur by being in a car crash, falling or being shot.
How serious is a broken femur in the elderly?
A femur break is a serious break at any age but it can be deadly to seniors that are 65 years and older. The femur is the longest bone in the body. Femur breaks/fractures are most likely at the hip but in some cases can be at the lower extremities.
What happens when you break your femur?
Symptoms of a femur fracture include severe pain, swelling, tenderness, physical deformity and often, the inability to walk. Treatment for a femur fracture often includes setting and immobilizing the leg, and in severe cases, surgery may be required to ensure proper healing.
What is the procedure to fix a broken femur?
The most common surgery for a broken femur is called intramedullary nailing . This surgery inserts a rod into the length of the bone with screws above and below to hold it into place.
What to do after a broken femur?
Following a femur break, once the bone is set back into its proper place and is stable, your doctor will most likely recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the bone.
Why is my femur so strong?
The femur is a very large, strong bone that is difficult to break. A broken femur is usually caused by a severe accident; vehicle accidents are one of the primary causes. Older adults can fracture their femur from a fall because their bones tend to be weaker.
What is the strongest bone in the body?
The femur — your thigh bone — is the largest and strongest bone in your body. When the femur breaks, it takes a long time to heal. Breaking your femur can make everyday tasks much more difficult because it’s one of the main bones used to walk.
What happens if you break your femur bone?
Poor alignment of the femur bone may also be painful. Peripheral damage. The break may also injure the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves of the leg. Surgical complications. Some complications related to surgery include infection and blood clots.
What kind of scan is needed for a break?
In most cases, your doctor will start with an X-ray. If more information is needed, they might also order a CT (computed tomography) scan. Before recommending specific treatment, your doctor will determine what type of break you have. The most common types are:
Can a broken femur heal?
A broken femur will usually have a major effect on your life, but only temporarily. Surgeries are routinely effective and people are typically able to completely heal from a broken femur. In the majority of broken femurs, patients return to a normal lifestyle. Last medically reviewed on July 31, 2018.
What is a femoral shaft fracture?
Femoral Shaft Fractures. A femoral shaft fracture is a severe injury that usually occurs as a result of a high-speed car collision or a fall from a great height. The treatment almost always requires surgery.
What is a proximal femur fracture?
Proximal femur fractures, or hip fractures, involve the uppermost portion of the thigh bone just adjacent to the hip joint. These fractures are further subdivided into: 2 . Femoral neck fractures are those that occur when the ball of the ball-and-socket joint is broken at the top of the femur.
What are the different types of fractures?
Proximal femur fractures, or hip fractures, involve the uppermost portion of the thigh bone just adjacent to the hip joint. These fractures are further subdivided into: 2 1 Femoral neck fractures are those that occur when the ball of the ball-and-socket joint is broken at the top of the femur. 2 Intertrochanteric hip fractures occur just below the femoral neck and are more easily repaired than femoral neck fractures.
What is a supracondylar fracture?
A supracondylar femur fracture, also called a distal femur, is a break in the bone that occurs just above the knee joint. 4 These fractures often involve the cartilage surface of the knee joint and are most commonly seen in people with severe osteoporosis or those who have previously undergone total knee replacement surgery.
What is external fixation?
External fixation is usually a temporary treatment for patients who have multiple injuries and cannot have a longer surgery to fix the fracture. 3 . External Fixation for Fractures.
Is a femur fracture a medical emergency?
A femur fracture is always considered a medical emergency requiring immediate evaluation and treatment in a hospital. The treatment is largely dependent on the location of the fracture and the pattern and extent of the break.
Can intramedullary rods be removed?
The intramedullary rod almost always remains in the bone but can be removed if needed. A less common technique involves the use of plates and screws to secure the fracture which is then held in place by an external fixator. The fixator, which is situated outside of the leg but penetrates the skin to stabilize the bone segments, ...
How does a femur fracture repair work?
In the most common surgery to repair a femur fracture, the surgeon inserts a rod or large nail into the center of the bone. This rod helps support the bone until it heals. The surgeon may also put a plate next to your bone that is attached by screws.
What is the term for a fractured femur?
You had a fracture (break) in the femur in your leg. It is also called the thigh bone. You may have needed surgery to repair the bone. You may have had surgery called an open reduction internal fixation. In this surgery, your surgeon will make a cut to the skin to align your broken bone.
How long does it take to recover from a fracture?
Recovery most often takes 4 to 6 months. The length of your recovery will depend on how severe your fracture is, whether you have skin wounds, and how severe they are. Recovery also depends on whether your nerves and blood vessels were injured, and what treatment you had.
How to keep leg brace dry while showering?
Take special care when showering. Follow your provider's instructions closely. If you are wearing a leg brace or immobilizer, cover it with plastic to keep it dry while you shower.
What is the name of the surgery that is done to fix a broken bone?
These devices are called internal fixators. The complete name of this surgery is open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). In the most common surgery ...
Do you have to take antibiotics after a pin in your leg?
Tell all of your providers, including your dentist, that you have a rod or pin in your leg. You may need to take antibiotics before dental work and other medical procedures to reduce your risk of getting an infection. This is more often needed early after the surgery.
Can you put weight on your leg?
You may not be able to put all, some, or any weight on your leg for a while. Make sure you know the correct way to use a cane, crutches, or walker. Be sure to do the exercises you were taught to help build strength and flexibility as you recover. Be careful not to stay in same position for too long.
What causes a femur to break?
Your femur might also be more likely to break if you have bone cancer. Motor vehicle accidents, sports-related injuries, gunshot injuries, and falls are common sources ...
How does a femur fracture work?
For a fracture in the long, middle part of your femur, your surgeon may insert a long metal rod through the middle of your bone. The entire operation usually takes place while you are asleep under general anesthesia.
What is ORIF in femur surgery?
If you fracture your femur, you usually need ORIF to bring your bones back into place and help them heal. During an open reduction, orthopedic surgeons reposition your bone pieces during surgery, so that they are back in their proper alignment. ...
What is the procedure to fix a broken thigh bone?
Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) is surgery used to stabilize and heal a broken bone. You might need this procedure to treat your broken thighbone (femur). The femur is the large bone in the upper part of your leg. Different kinds of trauma can damage this bone, causing it to fracture into 2 or more pieces.
What do you need to know before a femur surgery?
Before your procedure, a healthcare provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam. You’ll need imaging of your femur, probably with an X-ray or computed tomography scan (CT). Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines like aspirin.
Where is the femur fracture?
This might happen to the part of the femur near your knee, near the middle of the femur, or in the part of the femur that forms part of your hip joint. In certain types of femur fractures, your femur has broken, but its pieces still line up correctly. In other types of fractures (displaced fractures), the trauma moves the bone fragments out ...
What is internal fixation?
Internal fixation refers to the method of physically reconnecting your bones. This might involve special screws, plates, rods, wires, or nails that your surgeon places inside your bones to fix them in the correct place. This prevents your bones from healing abnormally. For a fracture in the long, middle part of your femur, ...
How to fix a broken femur?
The type of surgery you have generally depends on the where and how severe the fracture is, whether the broken bones aren't properly aligned (displaced), and your age and underlying health conditions. The options include: 1 Internal repair using screws. Metal screws are inserted into the bone to hold it together while the fracture heals. Sometimes screws are attached to a metal plate that runs down the femur. 2 Total hip replacement. Your upper femur and the socket in your pelvic bone are replaced with artificial parts (prostheses). Increasingly, studies show total hip replacement to be more cost-effective and associated with better long-term outcomes in otherwise healthy adults who live independently. 3 Partial hip replacement. If the ends of the broken bone are displaced or damaged, your surgeon might remove the head and neck of the femur and install a metal replacement. Partial hip replacement might be recommended for adults who have other health conditions or cognitive impairment or who no longer live independently.
What is the treatment for a fractured hip?
Treatment for hip fracture usually involves a combination of surgery, rehabilitation and medication.
How to tell if you have a hip fracture?
Often your doctor can determine that you have a hip fracture based on your symptoms and the abnormal position of your hip and leg. An X-ray usually will confirm that you have a fracture and show where the fracture is. If your X-ray doesn't show a fracture but you still have hip pain, your doctor might order an MRI or bone scan to look ...
What is partial hip replacement?
Partial hip replacement might be recommended for adults who have other health conditions or cognitive impairment or who no longer live independently.
Where is the hairline fracture located?
Most hip fractures occur in one of two locations on the long bone that extends from your pelvis to your knee (femur): The femoral neck. This area is situated in the upper portion of your femur, ...
Where is the femoral neck located?
The femoral neck. This area is situated in the upper portion of your femur, just below the ball part (femoral head) of the ball-and-socket joint. The intertrochanteric region. This region is a little farther down from the hip joint, in the portion of your upper femur that juts outward.
Is total hip replacement more cost effective than partial hip replacement?
Increasingly, studies show total hip replacement to be more cost-effective and associated with better long-term outcomes in otherwise healthy adults who live independently. Partial hip replacement.
