• 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.

How long does it take for a hairline fracture of the femur to heal?

Most femoral shaft fractures take 3 to 6 months to completely heal. Some take even longer, especially if the fracture was open or broken into several pieces or if the patient uses tobacco products.

What does a hairline fracture femur feel like?

A stress fracture of the shaft of the femur is characterised by a dull ache felt in the front of the thigh that will develop over a period of weeks. The pain is often hard to localise and may even be felt in the knee.

Can a 90 year old recover from a broken hip?

The length of recovery from hip fractures among older patients can increase with age. In general, the older individuals are and the greater number of conditions they have, the longer it can take to recover . The recovery time for a hip replacement ranges from four weeks to up to six months.

Can you fracture your femur and still walk?

Sometimes, a really bad complete fracture will not be able to carry weight or otherwise function properly. Most of the time, however, fractures can indeed support weight. The patient can probably even walk on a broken leg—it just hurts like the dickens.

How do I know if my femur is fractured?

If you have fractured the shaft of your femur , your symptoms may include: Pain, swelling, tenderness and bruising in your thigh. Inability to bear weight on your injured leg. Inability to move your hip or knee on the affected side. Visible portions of the fractured bone, if the fracture causes a break in the skin.

How serious is a femur fracture?

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 fracture your femur and not know it?

A broken thighbone ( femur ) — the strongest bone in your body — usually is obvious because it takes so much force to break . But fractures of your shinbone (tibia) — the major weight-bearing bone in your lower leg — and the bone that runs alongside your tibia below your knee (fibula) may be more subtle.

Can you walk with a fractured neck of femur?

Mostly it will be impossible to get up or walk . Very occasionally when the bone is cracked rather than completely broken , walking is possible, although painful. How does a femoral neck fracture occur? Fracture occurs following a simple fall onto the hip, usually without any other injury.

Do hairline fractures bruise?

A hairline fracture , also known as a stress fracture , is a small crack or severe bruise within a bone.

What happens if an elderly person breaks their hip?

Beyond suffering pain, a hip fracture results in a loss of physical function, decreased social engagement, increased dependence, and worse quality of life. Many people who have a hip fracture need to change their living conditions, such as relocating from their home into a residential aged care facility.

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 .

What is life expectancy after hip fracture?

Some reports show that up to 50 % of patients with hip fracture die within six months and many of those who survive do not recover their baseline independence and function. In recent decades the increase in life expectancy after 60 years of age has led to an exponential growth in hip fractures.

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 is a stress fracture of the femur treated?

The main treatment for femoral shaft stress fractures is rest from the offending athletic activity, a concept known as “relative rest”.

Does leg get shorter after femur fracture?

Complications can arise with femur breaks. Proper setting. If the femur is not set properly, there’s a chance the leg will become shorter than the other one and may cause hip or knee pain many years later . Poor alignment of the femur bone may also be painful.