What is a Femoral Shaft Fracture?
Femoral Shaft Fracture , also known as busted femoris , is the break of the shot of the thighbone or thighbone . Femoral shaft is the elongated , neat part of the thighbone and any breakage or fracture along the length of this shaft is eff as femoral ray fracture . The femoris is the substantial and longest ivory in our torso . As the femur is a very stiff off-white , it takes a lot of force to fracture or pause it . Some of the case where a somebody can incur a femoral shaft fracture areautomobile accidents , which are one of the major causes of femoral dick fracture .
Causes of Femoral Shaft Fractures
The most usual cause of femoral shaft fracture is some type of high - energy force or hit to the second joint , such as see in motorcycle ormotor vehicle accidents . Pedestrians getting hit by a auto , falling from great heights etc . are some other causes of femoral shaft fractures . If a femoral shaft fracture occur from a lower - force accident , such as a fall from a lower height , while standing etc . , then this is ordinarily seen in older individuals who have weak bones .
Types of Femoral Shaft Fracture
Femoral Shaft Fractures disagree depending on the force which causes its breakage . The pieces of the femoral jibe can be aligned or give notice . The femoral shaft fault can be a closed fracture where the cutis is entire ; or an open crack where the pearl has pierced through the peel .
Femoral Shaft Fractures are classify reckon on the following :
hold below are some of the common types of Femoral Shaft Fractures :
Transverse Femoral Shaft Fracture : In this type of femoral putz fracture , the break occur in a neat horizontal line across the shaft of the thighbone .
Spiral Femoral Shaft Fracture : As the name indicates , the line of the faulting encircles the shaft resemble candy cane stripes . A twisting type of forcefulness to the femur or second joint causes a spiral fracture .
devious Femoral Shaft Fracture : In this character of femoral shaft break , there is an angled line across the shaft .
Comminuted Femoral Shaft Fracture : In this type of femoral quill fracture , the femur is break in three or more pieces . unremarkably , the number of fragment of the pearl represent with the degree of force required to break the femur .
Open Femoral Shaft Fracture : In this type of fracture of the femoral shaft , the ivory is fracture such that the fragments of the ivory stick out or thrust through the pelt or there is a wound that riddle down to the fractured bone . This type of cracking is known as an undetermined or chemical compound crack and these types of fracture commonly are associate with increased damage to the wall heftiness , ligaments and tendons . Patients with this type of fracture will be at an increased risk for complication , such as infection and open fractures also take longer time to heal .
Signs & Symptoms of Femoral Shaft Fracture
Diagnosis of Femoral Shaft Fracture
aesculapian history and physical examination of the patient is carry out . The doctor will ask patient questions regarding the fortuity or trauma which has resulted in the fracture . Such as , if the patient was necessitate in acar accident , then the doctor will want to make love the speed at which the fomite was going and whether the patient role was the passenger or the number one wood . It is also queried whether the patient was wearing a seat belt or if the airbags went off . All this information serve in influence the manner in which the patient was hurt or if there is some other injuries present elsewhere in the eubstance .
It is also crucial to find out if the affected role has other aesculapian conditions , such as hypertension , asthma attack , diabetesorallergiesand what medications the patient is taking . Careful physical testing is carry out where the patient role ’s overall status , is assessed . When canvass the hurt branch , the doctor will check for any obvious misshapenness of the thigh or the leg ; i.e. whether it is bent at an abnormal angle , or is twisted , or whether if the leg is shorten . The doctor will also check for any contusion , breaks in the tegument and any bony fragments or spell which have pierced through the cutis . The doctor then experience along the second joint , leg and foot to correspond for any abnormality , to stop the pulses and assess the tightness of the muscle and skin around the injured thigh . The movement and sensation of the leg and foot are also checked .
Imaging Tests such as x - beam of light are commonly done to evaluate a fracture . X - ray helps in detecting whether the bone is broken or intact along with showing the eccentric of break and its localisation in the femoris . CT ( Computed Tomography ) scan can also be done to find out more data as a CT scan unveil cross - sectioned image of the limb , which provides more elaborate and accurate entropy about the severity of the femoral prick fracture .
Treatment of Femoral Shaft Fracture
Nonsurgical Treatment for Femoral Shaft Fracture
surgical operation is needed for absolute majority of the femoral shaft crack . It is most impossible to treat femoral light beam fracture without any operating theater . Children who are very young may be treated with a cast .
Surgical Treatment for Femoral Shaft Fracture
If the skin surrounding the femoral ray of light fracture is not broken or pierced , then surgery is postponed till the patient role is more stable . However , if there is an open femoral shaft fracture , then the fracture site gets exposed to the extraneous environment and it requires prompt surgery for intervention and prevention of infection .
The following operative procedures are used for fixing femoral shaft fractures :
Intramedullary Nailing of Femoral Shaft Fracture : Intramedullary Nailing is the most current and widely used method for fixing femoral shaft fractures . In this subprogram , a customise metal rod cell is insert into the marrow canal of the femur which authorize across the break and helps in keeping it in position . Intramedullary nailing is a good treatment option for fixing femoral lance fractures , as they ply strong and stable full - length fixation of the femoral shaft .
External Fixation of Femoral Shaft Fracture : In this surgical procedure , screws or metal flag are placed into the os above and below the internet site of femoral shaft fracture . These screws and pins are tie to a legal community locate outside the cutis , which acts as a stabilizing gadget to hold the bones in right position so that they can bring around in the correct alignment . This is unremarkably a temporary discussion for femoral shaft fractures , as this discussion can be used easy and are often apply when the patient has multiple injuries and is not a good candidate for longer surgery for fixing the faulting . External fixation is a skilful option in such event as it provides impermanent , but undecomposed stability till the prison term the patient has stabilized for the last surgical process . Sometimes , the external fixator is left till complete healing of the femur has been achieved .
Plates & Screws for Femoral Shaft Fracture : In this procedure , the fractured bone fragments are first dislodge or bring back into their normal alinement and then held together using special metal plate and fuck that are attached to the external airfoil of the bone . This procedure is unremarkably used when intramedullary nailing is not feasible , such as in case where the fracture has extended into the pelvic arch articulation or knee joint reefer .
Pain Management in Femoral Shaft Fracture : Pain is a common part of the healing cognitive operation and medications , such asNSAIDs , opioids are prescribed to manage pain after the operating theater . Local anaesthetic can also be used . It should be born in mind that opioids , although help in relieve pain , can be addictive as they are a narcotic , so should be used with precaution .
Weight bearing should be done upon the advice of the doctor . Patient will most likely demand to practice John Walker or crutches when commence to walk after the surgery .
Physical Therapyis an important part of the recovery process and should be done as shortly as the patient role is capable . Patient misplace muscle enduringness in the fractured region from want of use of the muscleman and stationariness during the healing summons . strong-arm therapy help in restoring normal muscularity strength , joint tractableness and mobility .
Complications from Surgery for Femoral Shaft Fracture
Other than the risks , which are present with any surgery , such as blood loss , infectionand problem with anesthesia , other complications from operation for femoral beam of light faulting admit : lineage clot , injury to blood vas and nerves , fatty intercalation , malalignment of the fractured bone fragments , nonunion or delayed join of the fracture and hardware irritation .
Complications from Femoral Shaft Fracture
Healing Time for Femoral Shaft Fracture
It aim around 4 to 6 months for majority of the femoral irradiation fractures to bring around . In some patients , healing time may be even long , especially if there is an open femoral spear fracture or if the bone has been fractured into several sherd .
