What is a distal fracture of the femur?
Fractures of the thighbone that occur just above the knee joint are called distal femur fractures. The distal femur is where the bone flares out like an upside-down funnel. The distal femur is the area of the leg just above the knee joint.
How long does a distal femur take to heal?
General Treatment Most distal femur fractures are treated with surgery. The broken bone will take a minimum of 2 months to heal. Some can take more than 6 months to heal.
What is a proximal femur fracture?
Definition. A fracture of the proximal femur also named hip fracture, consists in the break of the upper segment of the femur bone in proximity of the pelvic socket, the acetabulum.
What part of the femur is most commonly fractured?
Femoral head fractures are extremely rare and are usually the result of a high-velocity event. The areas of the femur (thighbone). Most hip fractures occur in the femoral neck or intertrochanteric area.
How do you fix a distal femur fracture?
The distal femur can be fixed with metal plates and screws or intramedullary nails. If the break involves the joint or is around a total knee replacement it is usually fixed with metal plates and screws placed through incisions on the side of the leg. Surgery usually takes 1 to 2 hours.
How common is distal femur fracture?
[5] 4-6% of all femur fractures are distal femur fractures, and more than 85%of these occurrences are low energy fractures in the elderly. Clinical Presentation Most common symptoms of distal femur fracture include: Pain with weight-bearing Swelling and bruising Tenderness to touch Deformity.
How is a fracture of the proximal femur treated?
Proximal femur fractures are treated with surgery. Proximal femur fractures are treated by using IM nail or an extramedullary sliding hip screw (SHS) or hip arthroplasty methods depending on the condition of the patient or the choice of the surgeon.
Can a distal femur fracture heal without surgery?
Very few distal femur fracture patterns and types do not need surgery for the bone to heal. This is because the strength of muscles that pull on the bones trying to pull them apart. Small breaks or those with good overall alignment often can be treated without an operation.