Can a distal femur fracture heal without surgery?

Most people with a fractured femur need some sort of surgery, usually ORIF. Without the surgery, your broken femur may not heal properly. ORIF can place your bones back into their proper configuration. This significantly increases the chance that your bone will heal properly.

How long before you can walk after 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.

How do you fix a distal femur fracture?

Nonsurgical treatment options for distal femur fractures include:

Skeletal traction. Skeletal traction is a pulley system of weights and counterweights that holds the broken pieces of bone together.
Casting and bracing. Casts and braces hold the bones in place while they heal.

What is a distal femur break?

A distal femur fracture is a break of the thigh bone just above the knee. It can result in cracks that extend into the knee joint itself. They can also happen around total joint replacements.

What is the fastest way to heal a broken femur?

How to heal a bone fracture as fast as possible

Fracture management – Including closed reduction (bone alignment through manipulation or traction), immobilization (using a splint or cast) and rehabilitation (physical therapy)
Physical therapy – To regain strength and normal function in the affected area.

Does leg get shorter after femur fracture?

Background. Nailing comminuted femur fractures may result in leg shortening, producing significant complications including pelvic tilt, narrowing of the hip joint space, mechanical and functional changes in gait, an increase in energy expenditures, and strains on spinal ligaments, leading to spinal deformities.

How do you sleep after femur surgery?

What to do:

Sleep on a firm bed or mattress.
Use a pillow(s) between your knees to avoid crossing your surgical leg across the middle of your body.
Change positions as you become uncomfortable.

Can I sit after femur surgery?

You may be able to take frequent, short walks using crutches or a walker. You will probably have to use crutches or a walker for at least 4 to 6 weeks. After that, you may need to use a cane to help you walk. Do not sit for longer than 30 to 45 minutes at a time.

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.

Can you walk with a distal femur fracture?

Distal femur fractures hurt a lot when you try to move your leg or your knee joint. You usually can’t walk on the leg. You may see or feel a bump where the bone is broken, and your injured leg may appear shorter than the other. When you see a doctor, they will take x-rays to see if your bone is broken.

How long does it take to heal a distal femur fracture?

A distal femur fracture is a severe injury. Depending on several factors — such as your age, general health, and the type of fracture you have — it may take a year or more of rehabilitation before you are able to return to all everyday activities.

What happens to the knee after a distal femur fracture?

Long-term issues after distal femur fractures can include failure of the fracture to heal. This can cause pain, weakness, and deformity of the knee. If this occurs, it is very important to be evaluated by your treating physician, and likely will require more surgery.

When to start walking after a broken femur?

Yet, many patients can start walking much earlier with the help of a physical therapist. Timing of surgery will depend on if the skin around the fracture is broken or not. Open fractures expose the injury site to the environment and need to be treated immediately. External fixation requires metal screws or pins to be placed into the bone.

When to have surgery for a femur fracture?

If you are suffering from closed femoral fracture, the surgeon will wait until you become stable before conducting the surgery. However, for open fracture, an emergency surgery is done immediately to prevent infection. Surgery for a broken femur can last up to three or four hours.