![]() The body cast, from chest to ankle is maintained for some months until the fracture is united. Following this period in traction the fracture must still be protected in a body cast, otherwise it is liable to shorten, angulate or rotate. This usually takes six to eight weeks in an adult. The traction must be maintained until the healing process is advanced to the point where the fracture will not move when the traction is removed. The principle behind using traction is that pulling on the bone both straightens it and keeps it still. Slings and splints support the leg, and 15-25 lbs or 7-11kg of weights are attached by cords and pulleys to the pin. A metal pin is passed through the bone either just above or just below the knee. Traction may be recommended in some cases where the risks of a more major operation seem too great. This surgery consists of straightening (reducing) the fracture and stabilizing it with a metal rod passed inside the bone and fixed to the bone at the top and bottom to prevent shortening and rotation. However, in North America the majority of patients with a broken thigh bone are now treated by surgery. TreatmentĪ few years ago this type of fracture was most commonly treated in traction. Even with good X-rays a small number of hip fractures are not discovered at the initial evaluation. It is extremely important to get satisfactory x-rays of the hip and knee joint to make sure these regions are not also fractured. The standard x-ray views are an anteroposterior (AP) view of the whole thigh bone from hip to knee and a lateral view of the shaft. CT or MRI scanning is not usually needed for these fractures. X-rays of the thigh are a vital part of the evaluation of this injury. Routine tests are done to evaluate blood loss and general body biochemistry prior to an anesthetic. Careful palpation of the leg, paying attention to the knee and shin as well as the thigh and hip, may give an indication of other injuries. The limb will be stabilized with splints, sandbags or skin traction. The vascular and nerve supply of the limb will be carefully checked. The patient will be checked carefully for other injuries especially in the case of a high energy accident with its potential to cause multiple traumas. In the Emergency Room the patient will be further assessed for shock and blood loss as this can be significant. The patient should be kept warm and still. Usually the leg will need to be splinted prior to transport to the hospital. The leg will be assessed for wounds, sensation and blood supply. ![]() The shock status of the patient will also be evaluated. ![]() Symptomsįirst aid evaluation at the scene of the accident will include questions about the nature of the accident, site of pain and ability to move the leg. An open fracture in which the bone comes out through the skin is an especially severe problem. The force needed to break the thigh bone often causes a lot of damage to the other structures in the thigh. This is particularly true of femur fractures. Injury to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, blood vessels and nerves may be more important than the broken bone. The bone injury is only a part of the total picture when a fracture occurs. This may occur in a car accident when the knee strikes the dashboard and the force is transmitted up the bone. This causes a spiral fracture of the bone.Ĭompression along the line of the bone causes a transverse fracture. This may result in a short oblique fracture or a three-part fracture with a short triangular fragment.Ī twisting force can be applied to the thigh bone when the foot or lower leg is trapped and the weight of the upper body is rotating. Impact against the thigh causes a bending force that compresses one side of the bone and stretches the other. what Physiocare Physiotherapy & Rehab Centre’s approach to rehabilitation is.how health care professionals diagnose these fractures.Fortunately, modern treatment usually stabilizes the bone quite early on and allows you to move around on crutches. Until recently the most common way to treat a fractured femur was to apply traction, the source of a thousand cartoons and jokes. The fracture is a disabling problem, severely limiting mobility until it is stabilized. It takes a lot of force to break the femur in an adult so it is often accompanied by other injuries. The thigh bone, or femur is the longest and strongest bone of the body. Welcome to Physiocare Physiotherapy & Rehab Centre’s Guide to Adult Femur Fractures. Physiotherapy in Ottawa Area for Hip Issues
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