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.
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.

How long do the elderly live after breaking a hip?

One in three adults aged 50 and over dies within 12 months of suffering a hip fracture. Older adults have a five-to-eight times higher risk of dying within the first three months of a hip fracture compared to those without a hip fracture. This increased risk of death remains for almost ten years.

How long does it take to walk after a broken femur?

Full recovery from a femur fracture can take anywhere from 12 weeks to 12 months . But you are not alone. Most people experiencing a femur fracture can begin walking with the help of a physical therapist in the first day or two after injury and/or surgery.

What are the long term effects of a broken femur?

Long-term symptoms after fracture include muscular weakness, limited standing and walking, gait abnormalities, some intermittent pain , and inability to return to preinjury work. Surgical management is rarely needed to treat femoral stress fractures; however, surgical stabilization is recommended for recalcitrant cases.

How long do you stay in the hospital with a broken femur?

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.

Why do so many elderly die after breaking hip?

Several factors can contribute to death after a hip fracture . These range from issues that led to the fall, such as cardiovascular, pulmonary, or neurological issues, to post-surgical complications like infections and pulmonary embolism.

Why do hip breaks kill elderly?

Stress, age and risk Neutrophils are key immune cells; they neutralise bacterial pneumonia, for example, a common cause of death in older adults, and infections, particularly after hip fracture .

Is breaking your femur the worst pain?

Broken Femur . The femur is considered the longest, largest and strongest bone in the human body. So, when a bone of this size and strength is literally snapped in two, the pain is not only immediately agonizing, but also prolonged over a long period of time.

How do you sleep after femur surgery?

Sleeping after hip surgery Sleep on your back with a pillow between your knees. Avoid crossing your surgical leg across the middle of your body. Sleep on your non-operative side with pillows between your legs. Avoid bending your knees.

How many hours does femur surgery take?

The surgeon makes a small incision (cut) on the side of your thigh. Special screws are placed to hold the bones in their correct position. This surgery takes 2 to 4 hours .

How long before you can put weight on a broken femur?

At some point, you may need physical therapy to restore strength and flexibility to your muscles. Doing your exercises as prescribed can improve your chances for a full recovery. Most femoral fractures take about 4 to 6 months to heal completely, but you should be able to resume many activities before this time.

What’s the worst bone to break?

Here’s a look at some of the bones that hurt the most to break: 1) Femur . The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the body . 2) Tailbone . You could probably imagine that this injury is highly painful. 3) Ribs . Breaking your ribs can be terribly distressing and quite painful. 4) Clavicle .

How do they fix a broken femur?

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. Sometimes, fixation devices are attached to a frame outside your leg.

How serious is breaking your femur?

Femur fractures have the potential to cause dangerous , sometimes life-threatening complications, such as significant bleeding inside the thigh, with blood loss of one quart or more. A femur fracture also may cause blood clots to form within the large veins of the thigh.

Can you run after a broken femur?

First, let the fractures heal. If you develop a completed fracture you are done running for an extended time, and maybe forever. Part of healing will require rest and time, with a gradual resumption of weight bearing under the direction of your physician.