Broken femur in elderly person

A femur break is a serious break at any age but it can be deadly to seniors that are 65 years and older. The femur is the longest bone in the body. Femur breaks/fractures are most likely at the hip but in some cases can be at the lower extremities.
The femur is a very large, strong bone that is difficult to break. A broken femur is usually caused by a severe accident; vehicle accidents are one of the primary causes. Older adults can fracture their femur from a fall because their bones tend to be weaker.

What are the long term effects of a broken femur?

Long-term symptoms after fracture include muscular weakness, limited standing and walking, gait abnormalities, some intermittent pain , and inability to return to preinjury work. Surgical management is rarely needed to treat femoral stress fractures; however, surgical stabilization is recommended for recalcitrant cases.

Is a femur fracture life threatening?

Femur fractures have the potential to cause dangerous , sometimes life – threatening complications, such as significant bleeding inside the thigh, with blood loss of one quart or more. A femur fracture also may cause blood clots to form within the large veins of the thigh.

How long does it take to fully recover from a broken femur?

At some point, you may need physical therapy to restore strength and flexibility to your muscles. Doing your exercises as prescribed can improve your chances for a full recovery. Most femoral fractures take about 4 to 6 months to heal completely, but you should be able to resume many activities before this time.

Can a 90 year old recover from a broken hip?

The length of recovery from hip fractures among older patients can increase with age. In general, the older individuals are and the greater number of conditions they have, the longer it can take to recover . The recovery time for a hip replacement ranges from four weeks to up to six months.

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 fully recover from a 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 long do you stay in the hospital with a broken femur?

Most people who receive specialized treatment for a femur fracture are admitted in a long -term nursing or rehabilitation facility. Full recovery can take anywhere from 12 weeks to 12 months.

How do you sleep with a broken femur?

Invest in a specialized pillow, like a body pillow, for elevation—keeping the broken bone above your heart prevents blood from pooling and causing swelling. Try sleeping on your back first while propped up on a few pillows. If that doesn’t work, slowly adjust yourself to a side position if possible.

How do they fix a fractured femur?

In the most common surgery to repair a femur fracture , the surgeon inserts a rod or large nail into the center of the bone. This rod helps support the bone until it heals. The surgeon may also put a plate next to your bone that is attached by screws. Sometimes, fixation devices are attached to a frame outside your leg.

How many hours does femur surgery take?

The surgeon makes a small incision (cut) on the side of your thigh. Special screws are placed to hold the bones in their correct position. This surgery takes 2 to 4 hours .

How long before you can drive after a broken femur?

People with post-operative fractures of the right knee, ankle, thigh, or calf bone could reasonably return to driving after six weeks of weight-bearing therapy.

Why do elderly die after breaking hip?

Combined with the trauma of a fracture and surgery, an existing health condition may significantly increase the risk of death . Death after a hip fracture may also be related to additional complications of the fracture , such as infections, internal bleeding, stroke or heart failure.

Can the elderly recover from a broken hip?

Recovery From Geriatric Hip Fracture Surgery Patients are encouraged to put all their weight on the affected leg with the help of physical therapy, assistive devices and their caregivers. During this time, the pain from the fracture and surgery will gradually improve, and mobility should improve as well.

Can an elderly person break a hip without falling?

These symptoms are most common after a fall . But if you have very thin bones from osteoporosis or another problem, you could break your hip without falling . In rare cases, people have only thigh or knee pain. They may be able to walk.