Las Colinas Medical Center

About Us
- About Us
  Our highly-trained physicians, clinically competent staff, and consistent customer service enable Las Colinas Medical Center to maintain HCAHPS scores among the highest in the healthcare industry.
Amenities
- Amenities
  Visitors to Las Colinas Medical Center often comment that we look more like a "hotel" than a hospital, especially since we offer concierge service as you enter our facility.
Patients & Visitors
- Patients & Visitors
  Family members and friends are welcome to visit. However, patient care is our primary concern at Las Colinas Medical Center, so please respect patient's need for rest.
Services
- Services
  Las Colinas Medical Center provides a wide range of health services, including chest pain & level 1 stroke, joint replacement, Women's Services and imaging.
Find a Physician
- Find a Physician
  Las Colinas Medical Center has more than 400 physicians offering expertise in a wide range of specialties. Our Women's Services, Certified Imaging Departments, Surgical Services and Cardiac programs are the envy of many.
Careers
- Careers
  Las Colinas Medical Center is a Great Place to Work - Our Culture, Our Leadership, Our Facility, along with being part of the largest healthcare providers in the nation - HCA.
Health Info
- Health Info
  Las Colinas Medical Center's website is a great source and portal of health information.
Blog

Femoral Fracture

Home
Health Info
Condition Detail

(Femur Fracture; Thigh Bone Fracture; Broken Leg)

Definition

A femoral fracture is a break in the thigh bone, which is called the femur. It runs from the hip to the knee. It is the longest and strongest bone in the body. It usually requires a great deal of force to break the femur.

Femoral Fractures

Causes

A femoral fracture is usually caused by direct trauma to your femur. Trauma includes:

Falls
Blows
Collisions
Severe twists

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a femoral fracture. Tell your doctor if you have any of these risk factors:

Advancing age
Postmenopausal osteoporosis
Decreased muscle mass
Certain diseases that weaken bones, such as osteoporosis or cancer
Participation in certain contact sports, such as football

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

Immediate and severe pain
Swelling and bruising around the area of the break
Inability to walk and/or limited range of motion of the knee or hip
Deformity of the injured leg, such as shortening or abnormal twisting

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, physical activity, and how the injury happened. The injured area will also be examined. You may have x-rays to look for a break in the bone.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the location and severity of your injury. Treatment involves:

Putting the pieces of the bone back in position, which may require anesthesia and/or surgery
Keeping the pieces together while the bone heals

Devices that may be used to hold the bone in place while it heals include:

A cast (rarely used except in very young patients)
A metal plate with screws (requires surgery)
A rod down the middle of the bone (requires surgery)
Metal pins that cross the bone, with a frame on the outside of the leg that holds the pins and the fractured bone in place (requires either general or local anesthesia)

Your doctor will order additional x-rays while the bone heals. This is to ensure that the bones have not shifted position.

Once home, follow your doctor's discharge instructions.

Exercises

When your doctor decides you are ready, you will start range-of-motion and strengthening exercises. You may be referred to a physical therapist to assist you. Do not return to sports until your leg is fully healed and your thigh muscle strength is back to normal.

Healing Time

A fractured femur is a serious injury that takes 3-6 months to heal.

Prevention

To help prevent femoral fractures:

Do not put yourself at risk for trauma to the femur.
Eat a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.
Build strong muscles to prevent falls and to stay active and agile.
Always wear a seatbelt when driving or riding in a car.
Wear proper padding and safety equipment when participating in sports or activities.
Femoral fracture has been linked to osteoporosis (thinned bones) in people over age 55. Be sure to find out if you have osteoporosis. Follow any treatment recommendations for this condition to help prevent further fractures.

RESOURCES

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons http://www.aaos.org

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine http://www.sportsmed.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Canadian Orthopaedic Association http://www.coa-aco.org

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation http://www.canorth.org

References

Broken leg. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/broken-leg/DS00978. Updated July 2009. Accessed July 21, 2009.

Cummings-Vaughn LA, Gammack JK. Falls, osteoporosis, and hip fractures. MedClin North Am. 2011 May;95(3):495-506.

Osteoporosis and fracture: preventing falls and related fractures. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health%5FInfo/Bone/Osteoporosis/Fracture/prevent%5Ffalls%5Fff.asp. Updated August 2005. Accessed June 18, 2008.

Thighbone (femur) fracture. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00364. Updated August 2007. Accessed June 18, 2008.

Revision Information

Reviewer: John C. Keel, MD
Review Date: 09/2012 -
Update Date: 00/92/2012 -

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Quick Links

6800 North MacArthur Blvd; Irving, TX 75039; (972) 969-2000