A femoral fracture is a break in the thigh bone. It runs from the hip to the knee.
This injury is caused by trauma from:
Things that may raise the risk are:
Symptoms may be:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history. You will be asked how the injury happened. An exam will be done, focusing on your leg.
Images may be taken of the break. This can be done with:
It will take four to six months to heal. Most people will need surgery. The doctor will need to put these pieces back into place. This may be done:
The goals of treatment are to manage pain and support the bone as it heals. This may include:
Children's bones have growth plates that let bones grow and harden with age. A child with a fracture may need to be checked over time to make sure the bone heals the right way and keeps growing.
Most fractures are due to accidents. Always wear a seatbelt. Healthy bones and muscles may also prevent injury. This may be done through diet and exercise.
American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Canadian Orthopaedic Association
Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
Femoral shaft fracture—emergency management. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/management/femoral-shaft-fracture-e...gency-management. Accessed September 24, 2019.
Femur shaft fractures (broken thighbone). Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00521. Updated May 2018. Accessed September 24, 2019.
Femoral stress fracture. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/femoral-stress-fracture. Updated May 3, 2018. Accessed September 24, 2019.
Tins BJ, Garton M, et al. Stress fracture of the pelvis and lower limbs including atypical femoral fractures-a review. Insights Imaging. 2015 Feb;6(1):97-110.
Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Warren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.