#Broken femur recovery full#

#Broken femur recovery full#

They often occur in people having a trip or fall following a total knee replacement or are suffering from osteoarthritis which means the femur is weaker.Ībove: Trigger point massage of the hamstring muscles by experienced MSK therapistĪ fractured femur is diagnosed by a health professional carrying out a full subjective and objective assessment. Supracondylar fractures happen just above the knee joint. Most commonly, proximal fractures affect the elderly following a trip or fall due to osteoarthritis weakening the bone meaning it is more susceptible to sustaining a break or crack.įemoral shaft fractures often come about following a high impact accident such as a road traffic accident of a fall from a significant height. There are many causes to acquiring a femoral fracture. Supracondylar femur fracture– refers to the lower part of the femur bone, just above the knee joint.Femoral shaft fracture – refers to the middle part of the femur bone.Proximal femur fracture - refers to the upper part of the femur bone, just below the hip joint.The three different types of fractures are: The type of fracture acquired depends on the mechanism of injury and the age of the patient. There are generally three types of fractures that can affect the femur bone. Speak to an attorney that has experience in nursing home abuse/neglect cases and they can help you get the wheels in motion to report the incident to the proper authorities.Above: Soft tissue massage of the hamstring muscles by experienced therapistĪ fractured femur is an injury affecting the femur bone causing cracks or breaks to appear suddenly usually following a trip or fall or following a high impact accident. Go here and look up your state to find the number to call to report suspected abuse and/or neglect.If you feel that a loved one is at risk because of neglect that caused a femur break you can take action: Since these facilities are supposed to be a safe haven for the elderly that will help to protect them, relatives and friends do not feel the same compulsion to check the safety of the environment. There is speculation that the risk factor is higher in nursing homes and other institutional living settings because of a “false” sense of security. According to statistical data, a woman over the age of 65 that lives in a nursing home or assisted living facility has a 25% higher risk of suffering a femur break. Another risk factor for experiencing this type of break is institutional living. Other Factorsįemur breaks are more likely to occur in seniors that have other conditions like osteoporosis, poor nutrition and that take certain medications that contribute to bone thinning.

It can be difficult to get to the “bottom” of the incident when the document trail is not consistent or reliable and the resident cannot tell you what happened because of preexisting conditions like dementia. It is not unusual for shift reports to be falsified. In many cases, the staff member is afraid to report the injury because they do not want to suffer the consequences of potentially losing their job. When a staff member simply leaves their shift without reporting the incident, it can literally mean a death sentence for the resident. Since speedy action and intervention is highly recommended by all medical professionals. Improper supervision while bathing, walking and even when being moved from the bed to a chair can easily cause a fall that results in a femur break. The most common cause of a femur break in a nursing home is from a fall. Many of these types of incidences are not reported in a timely manner by staff members at a nursing home because they occur out of neglect. When these types of injuries happen in a nursing facility, staff members may be slow to report the injury for fear of reprisal from their employer. Mortality rates at 1 year after surgery was 25%Įach study has found that quick action was one of the key factors in who survived the break and who did not.

The overall mortality rate with a follow up of 9.8 years was 38% without co-morbidity.

Surgical success rates were increased by 39% in patients that were operated on within the first 48 hours.Īccording to another study that looked at 100 elderly patients that suffered a femur break over a 10-year period:.

Mortality rate was 10% within 2 months of the injury.The largest difference between these two groups is the survival rate.Ī retrospective study that reviewed a 105 femur fractures that occurred below the hip in 99 patients that were age 65 and older found that: These types of fractures are most prevalent in young men from high-energy injuries and elderly women in low-energy injuries. Femur breaks/fractures are most likely at the hip but in some cases can be at the lower extremities. The femur is the longest bone in the body. Femur Breaks Femur Break in a Nursing Home ResidentĪ femur break is a serious break at any age but it can be deadly to seniors that are 65 years and older.