10 Femur Fracture Symptoms

By nigel

Reviewed: Dr. Gromatzky

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The thighbone, also known as the femur, is the long bone that connects the lower leg bones to the hip. The femur is one of the largest and most important bones in the body. It bears a lot of the weight of the torso and head and is important for maintaining our mobility. Unfortunately, just like any other bone in our body, the femur is liable to damage. The bone can break or crack. A crack in the femur is known as a fracture. Fortunately, since the bone is so large and strong, it generally takes quite a bit of force to actually deal enough damage to the femur for it to fracture.

The most common causes of a femur fracture are high-intensity traumatic accidents. These can include things like car crashes, accidents with heavy machinery in the workplace, very high falls, or injuries resulting from fights and sports. If the femur fractures as a result of a mild injury, then this could indicate that the health of your bones is compromised and that there is an underlying medical issue that you should be seeking treatment for. The thigh can fracture in different areas. If it fractures just above the knee joint, this particular form of fracture is referred to as a distal femur fracture. The distal femur is the term used to describe the bone where it flares outward like a cone before connecting with the knee. These fractures are most likely to occur in elderly people or in others who have problems that compromise the strength of their bones.

The knee is the largest weight-bearing joint in the body, so if you fracture your thigh or any other bone that affects the knee, you will experience a number of symptoms that will interfere with your quality of life. Most people who fracture their thigh are unable to walk without significant difficulty or great pain. A reduction in overall mobility usually occurs as well. Chances are if you’ve fractured your thigh, you will be in enough pain or discomfort to assure yourself that you need medical attention. However, if you are still wondering whether or not your thigh has actually been fractured, it can be useful to read a list of symptoms so that you can be certain that the injury that you’re suffering from is a fracture. Below is a list of the most common symptoms of a femur fracture.

Symptom #1: Pain

The first and foremost symptom that most people experience when they fracture their thigh is pain. In some cases, the pain will initially strike as fierce and intense at the moment that the bone fractures. In other cases, people may first enter a state of shock when they fracture their leg—such as those who are involved in spontaneous accidents such as a car crash.

Regardless of what the initial shock is like, people who fracture their thigh tend to experience a significant amount of pain after the bone is fractured. This is particularly true if they try to walk or if any pressure is applied to the area. Getting a splint and a cast and adhering to weight bearing precautions as advised by your doctor is the best way to avoid any unnecessary pain when you’ve fractured your leg.