FEMUR FRACTURE
A broken femur is a break in the thighbone. The femur is the longest, largest, heaviest, and strongest bone in the body. When broken, It makes standing and walking almost impossible.
If your child needs surgery or casting, our Fracture Care Clinic opens every day and you do not need an appointment. Surgery rooms get scheduled every morning, so your child receives the care and attention they need right away.
Femur Fracture
The longest, strongest, and heaviest bone in the human body, the femur, (a thigh bone) can fracture. Due to the femur’s size and strength, it often takes a significant amount of force or damage to cause a fracture. Falls and auto accidents are two instances of regular mishaps that result in femur fractures. On the other hand, femur fractures brought on by low-energy trauma imply the existence of a bone disorder. A child’s shattered femur might indicate maltreatment. Severe pain, hemorrhage, leg deformity, tissue swelling, and immobility are just a few signs of a broken femur. Hypovolemic shock can occur as a result of substantial blood loss. Fragments of the bone may occasionally stick out from the skin. Femur fractures are frequently related to stressful situations that might cause harm to other body parts as well.
Reducing the fracture refers to a procedure used to treat fractured femurs that involves putting the fragmented bone pieces back in their proper anatomical positions. The precise procedures employed for treatment depend on the particular circumstance and must take into account the amount and nature of the break as well as the management of any associated ailments. Options for therapy might include both surgical and nonsurgical procedures. Children frequently sustain femoral fractures despite the femur’s size and strength. the majority of Broken legs get caused by car accidents, falling off playground equipment, or even tripping over house furniture. Broken legs can range in severity from a little hairline break to a complicated injury that also entails damage to the soft tissues around them.
What are the Symptoms of a Broken Femur?
Here are warning indicators of a fractured femur if you’ve been hurt or dropped something:
- The child has a lot of pain.
- The child’s wounded leg cannot bear any weight.
- Pieces of the femur have broken through the skin and bleeding occurs.
- The femur’s fragments rub up against but don’t puncture the skin.
- It hurts on the thigh.
- Your child’s thigh may swell.
- The wounded limb may curve outward away from the body.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is a femur fracture in children, and how does it occur?
A femur fracture in children is a break or crack in the femur, which is the thigh bone, the largest and strongest bone in the body. Fractures can occur anywhere along the length of the femur, from the hip to the knee. They may happen due to traumatic incidents like falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, or other forms of significant force to the leg. Children with certain medical conditions or those involved in high-impact sports are at a higher risk for femur fractures.
How is a femur fracture in a child diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosis involves a physical examination, medical history, and imaging studies such as X-rays or sometimes CT scans to evaluate the location, type, and severity of the fracture. Treatment depends on the extent and type of fracture. It can range from immobilization using a cast or splint to surgical procedures such as closed reduction (manually aligning the bones) with casting or open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) where surgical hardware is used to stabilize the bones.
Following treatment, physical therapy and rehabilitation are crucial to help the child regain strength and mobility. The duration of recovery and rehabilitation varies based on the severity of the fracture and the child’s overall health.
What are the potential complications and long-term effects of a femur fracture in children?
Complications may include pain, stiffness, infection, improper healing leading to malalignment, and damage to nearby nerves or blood vessels. Long-term effects can vary based on the severity and location of the fracture, but with appropriate and timely treatment, most children recover well. They may experience some muscle weakness or stiffness initially, but with rehabilitation, these issues often improve, and many children can regain normal function and activity levels.
Regular follow-ups with the orthopedic surgeon, adherence to the prescribed treatment plan, and participation in rehabilitation are crucial to monitor healing, address any complications, and support the child’s recovery and long-term outcomes.
The doctors and surgeons at the Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists are experts at treating broken bones. To ensure your child heals correctly, call us for an appointment.
Causes of a Fractured Femur
Accidents cause the most fractured femurs. Motor vehicle accidents and high-impact falls are among the most prevalent causes of this robust bone breaking in otherwise healthy children since it takes a rather great force to do it. Anywhere along the bone may experience a fracture. The majority of so-called hip fractures are actually femur neck fractures. Certain illnesses, such as osteoporosis or cancer that has spread to the bone marrow, might increase the risk of fracture in the affected bones. Traumatic injuries frequently co-occur with other injuries, either internal or external and are seldom a solitary occurrence. Even with the right care, a femur fracture can take up to six months to heal.
Categorizing Femur Fractures
The break’s location — which can take place in a number of places — refers to one method to categorize a broken femur.
Proximal femur fracture
A break in the topmost portion of the thigh bone, close to the hip joint, refers to a proximal femur fracture (hip fracture).
Femoral shaft fracture
A break in the center of the bone or in the narrow portion of the femur refers to a femoral shaft fracture. Almost always, this kind of fracture necessitates surgical intervention.
Supracondylar femur fracture
A supracondylar femoral fracture refers to a fracture just above the knee joint and usually occurs when the foot is bumped and force is applied to the leg above the knee.
Distal femur fracture
A break in the upper portion of the knee joint refers to a distal femur fracture. This kind of fracture has the potential to affect the knee’s growth plate and cartilage. To adequately realign the bones following a fracture in this region, surgery is frequently necessary.
How do doctors treat a Broken Femur Treated?
The course of therapy for a fractured femur in your child depends depend on their age and the severity of the fracture. Reduction and casting are effective treatments for certain fractured femurs, whereas surgery and fixation are necessary for others.
Closed reduction
An operation to modify and set (reduce) the fracture is known as a closed reduction. The doctor realigns the bone pieces from outside the body using anesthesia, often administered through an IV.
Casting
Doctors place childen in spica casts to keep the bone in place while it heals following reduction or surgery. The spica cast will keep the hip or thigh muscles in place while they mend in the event that your kid undergoes surgery. Types of spica casts used to repair fractured femurs include:
Unilateral hip spica cast
begins at the chest and descends to the afflicted leg’s ankle, freeing the uninjured leg from a cast.
One and one-half hip spica cast
from the chest down to the knee of the opposite leg and the ankle of the afflicted leg. In order to immobilize the hips and legs and make raising the kid easier, a bar may occasionally attach to both legs.
Bilateral long leg hip spica cast
This cast originates at the chest and reaches both legs and ankles. A bar may occasionally attach to both legs to prevent movement of the hips and legs. Your kid may require a brace and physical therapy to strengthen their muscles and restore joint flexibility when the cast is removed.
Fractured Femur Treatments
The surgeon may advise one of the following surgeries depending on the severity of the fracture.
Internal fixation
To keep the broken bone in place while it heals in cases of severe or extensive fractures, a surgeon may introduce metal rods, plates, or screws into the femur.
External fixation
Doctors can insert Metal pins through the skin and into the broken bone if internal fixing can not be accomplished. These pins are fastened to a bar that protrudes from the child’s thigh skin. While the bone heals, the pins and bar keep the broken pieces in place and the bone in proper alignment.
Intramedullary nails or rods
The surgeon could pierce the skin with a few tiny incisions before driving nails into the bone. The nails realign the bone, keep it in position, and nevertheless permit normal growth and remodeling.
Are there any Negative Effects of a Fractured Femur?
Broken femurs can lead to complications:
Proper setting
If the femurs are not properly aligned, one leg will end up shorter than the other and can cause hip and knee pain years later.
Peripheral damage
Fractures can also damage leg muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.
Surgical complications
Complications associated with surgery include infections and blood clots.
After Surgery, Treating a Fractured Femur
After a femur fracture, once the bone has returned to its original position and stabilized your doctor will most likely recommend physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the bone. Exercises to build up the thigh will also aid in the restoration of flexibility and regular leg function. Typically, although only momentarily, a fractured femur will have a significant impact on your life. People may usually fully recover from a fractured femur thanks to surgery, which is frequently successful. Most people with shattered femurs resume their usual lives.
How we Care for Broken Femurs at “Medical City Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists”
The orthopedics and fracture specialists at Medical City Kids Children’s Orthopedics and Spine Specialists treat thousands of kids, teenagers, and young adults with fractures of various types and degrees of complexity every year. Our experience in pediatrics enables the accurate identification of ailments affecting the developing musculoskeletal system as well as the creation of effective treatment regimens. Our orthopedic specialists treat patients with orthopedic injuries that need rapid medical treatment but are not severe enough to require emergency department care. We are presently accepting new patients and invite parents to make an appointment for their children.
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Footnote:
Orthopedic Trauma Association: Fractured Femur
Call 214-556-0590 to make an appointment.