Femoral shaft fractures are severe injuries that often occur because of high-energy trauma like automobile accidents, falling from a significant height or contact sports injuries. However, the femur shaft may also break because of low-intensity trauma in the elderly or people with conditions like osteoporosis. In this article, we will see femoral shaft fractures in detail along with their cause, diagnosis, and treatment. 

The treatment of fractures in the femur shaft also demands surgery in most cases as the fractures are so severe that non-surgical methods don’t work.

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Femoral Shaft Fracture – An Overview

Femur is the longest and strongest bone in our body and for a fracture to occur, a strong and high-energy impact is required. Depending on the cause and intensity of the impact, femur shaft fractures can be of different types:

• Oblique Fractures

• Transverse Fractures

• Comminuted Fractures

• Spiral Fractures

• Open or Compound Fractures

If we talk about fractures in the femoral shaft, there is a high possibility of open fractures. This is because the cause of such fractures is high-intensity trauma and they often result in open/compound fractures. 

What Causes Femur Shaft Fractures?

Fractures in the femoral shaft often occur because of a strong force which may occur because of:

• Car crashes

• High-impact collision or a direct impact with a solid & heavy object

• Gunshot wounds

• Falling from a significant height

In the elderly, femoral shaft fractures can occur because of low-intensity trauma like slipping or twisting your leg, falling in the bathroom or lifting a heavy object. Besides this, such fractures also occur in people with osteoporosis without any significant cause. 

What Are the Symptoms of Fractures in the Femoral Shaft?

Pain is common when someone breaks a bone and hence, femoral shaft fractures will also result in severe pain. Besides this, some other symptoms associated with these fractures include:

• Swelling and bruising in the fractured leg

• Inability to walk 

• Pain while putting weight on the injured leg

• Deformity

• Pain that becomes worse when someone touches the fracture site or moves the leg

• Numbness in the lower leg or knee

What is the Diagnosis for Femoral Shaft Fractures?

The diagnosis of fractures often starts with a physical examination where the orthopedic specialist examines for the visible signs & symptoms. They may include bruising, swelling, deformity, or numbness. However, the healthcare service provider will also look for the range of motion of the leg to assess the severity and intensity of the pain. Certain imaging tests are then ordered to confirm the location of the fractures and their severity. The imaging tests ordered may include:

• MRI

• CT-Scan

• X-ray examination

What is the Treatment for Femoral Shaft Fractures?

Avoiding surgery to treat femur shaft fractures is difficult as in most cases, the fracture is severe and only surgical intervention can fix that. Open reduction and internal fixation is the commonest surgical procedure that orthopedic surgeons perform in most cases. However, external fixation is preferred when ORIF is not feasible at the moment. 

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Article source: https://article-realm.com/article/Health-Fitness/Depression/38434-An-Educational-Guide-to-Femoral-Shaft-Fractures.html