Femur Bone Fracture: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

The femur bone, or thigh bone, connects your hip to the rest of your body. It is the longest and strongest bone in your body and helps give your body structure. A femur bone fracture occurs when the bone breaks in more than one place along its length. Femur bone fractures are very serious and can lead to amputation if left untreated, so knowing the risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options will help you know what to do if you experience this fracture during your life or that of someone you love.

What is a femur fracture?

A femur fracture is a type of broken bone that occurs when there is trauma to your hip. In addition to being one of most common fractures  over age 65, femur fractures are also one of most serious types of broken bones because they tend to require surgery. 

The femur is one of two long bones that make up your thighbone (or thigh). These bones connect to your pelvis at your hip joint, forming a ball-and-socket joint called an acetabulum.

 A major nerve runs between these two bones, giving you control over your muscles in your hip area. Common causes include falling from a height or being hit by a vehicle or other large object; femoral fractures can also be caused by osteoporosis due to low bone density.

The causes of a femur fracture

The femur (also called thighbone) is one of two long bones in your upper leg. The thighbone connects to your hip bone at your hip socket and also connects to your knee bone at your knee joint. 

When you walk or run, these joints are under a lot of pressure. This pressure can lead to stress fractures that weaken or break these bones.

 Common causes of femur fractures include: falls from high places; injury while playing sports such as football, basketball, soccer, skiing or snowboarding; medical conditions like osteoporosis; older age (you're more likely to break a bone as you get older); certain medicines such as corticosteroids (which are used to reduce swelling) and drugs used for cancer treatment.

The symptoms of a broken thighbone

If you have suffered a fractured femur bone due to an accident or sports injury, you are likely experiencing some or all of these symptoms.

 They include pain in your thighbone area, especially when moving it in certain directions; swelling (and sometimes bruising) around your leg; difficulty walking; and in rare cases paralysis. The location of your fracture will impact where you experience pain. If your break is near your hip joint, for example, you may also experience knee pain as well as hip pain.

How the hospital treats fractures in the hip

Hip fractures are generally set in two ways.

 External fixation involves using pins to hold together various parts of a broken bone while it heals on its own with no internal surgery involved. 

Internal fixation uses screws and plates to secure fractured bones into place so they can heal properly over time after surgery has been completed.

The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The patient's leg is placed in a position that places pressure on the hip joint, making it difficult for anyone to move or walk without assistance. On top of that, antibiotics are administered intravenously to prevent infection. 

Recovery from Hip Fractures

The Healing Process: 

After a hip fracture, you can expect to be in recovery for several weeks.

 In your first week after surgery, you’ll probably be in traction, meaning that you’ll need assistance with daily living tasks such as bathing and getting dressed. 

In your second week post-surgery, you’ll likely begin physical therapy—and possibly remain in bed or a wheelchair.