Femur Fractures

Your femur is your thigh bone that runs from the hip to the top of the knee joint. It’s the longest and strongest bone on the human body. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, motor vehicle and motorcycle accidents are the most common causes of femur fractures. Other common causes of the injury are being hit by a car as a pedestrian or bicyclist or contact sports. Even a simple trip-and-fall can result in a femur fracture.

The shaft of the femur is the long and straight part of the bone. It’s divided into the proximal, middle and distal thirds. When it’s fractured, victims experience immediate severe pain, and it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to walk on the broken leg. Common types of fractures to the femur consist of:

• Stress fractures that might resolve on their own with rest
• Transverse fractures where the break is across the femoral shaft
• Oblique or angled fractures across the femoral shaft
• Supracondylar fractures above the knee that also tears cartilage
• Proximal femur fractures commonly called broken hips
• Spiral fractures around the femoral shaft from a twisting motion
• Comminuted fractures into three or more pieces
• Open fractures when bone protrudes through the skin

Femoral bleeding
Each femur is supplied with a considerable amount of blood, so significant blood loss can accompany a femur fracture. About 40 percent of all femur fractures require at least one blood transfusion.

Surgery
Nearly all femur fractures are treated with surgery. Sometimes a rod is placed down the center of the femur and held in place with screws. At other times, one or more sets of plates and screws are used to connect fragmented bone. Even external fixation might be used outside of the leg itself to keep bones positioned properly. Surgery involving a femur fracture is painful and expensive. Rehab can be lengthy. It could take a victim six to seven months to reach maximum medical improvement. Only a tiny percentage of femur fracture victims are able to make a full recovery from their injury.

Compensation
If you suffered a femur fracture as a result of the carelessness and negligence of somebody else, you might be eligible for compensation that can consist of:

• Past medical bills and medical bills reasonably expected to be incurred in the future
• Past lost earnings and lost earnings reasonably expected to be lost in the future
• Any permanent disfigurement
• Any permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of a normal life

Contact a Spokane Personal Injury Lawyer Today

Fractured femurs are severe injuries that are likely to be with you for the rest of your life. If you suffered a broken femur anywhere in the State of Washington as a result of the recklessness or negligence of another person, business or government entity, you only have a limited amount of time to seek compensation. You’ll want to reach out to us right away by phone or email. We can even come to you at a hospital or your home if that’s necessary. All personal injury consultations with us are free of cost, and there are no legal fees for our services unless we obtain a settlement or verdict on your behalf. There’s no reason not to talk with us. You owe it to yourself and your family.