Some pain medications may have side effects that can impact your ability to drive and do other activities. Your doctor may use a combination of these medications to help control pain, as well as minimize the need for opioids. These include acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), gabapentinoids, muscle relaxants, opioids, and topical pain medications. Many types of medications are available to help manage pain. Medications are often prescribed for short-term pain relief after surgery or an injury. Your doctor and nurses will work to reduce your pain, which can help you recover faster. Pain after an injury or surgery is a natural part of the healing process. Some take even longer, especially if the fracture was open or broken into several pieces or if the patient uses tobacco products. Most femoral shaft fractures take 3 to 6 months to completely heal. What is recovery from a femur shaft fracture like? Plates and screws are often used when intramedullary nailing may not be possible, such as for fractures that extend into either the hip or knee joints. They are held together with screws and metal plates attached to the outer surface of the bone. Plates and screwsĭuring this surgery, the bone fragments are first repositioned into their normal alignment. They come in various lengths and diameters to fit most femur bones. Intramedullary nails are usually made of titanium. (Right) In this front view x-ray, the fracture has been treated with intramedullary nailing (Left) This x-ray, taken from the side, shows a transverse fracture of the femur. Screws are placed above and below the fracture to hold the leg in correct alignment while the bone heals. The rod passes across the fracture to keep it in position.Īn intramedullary nail can be inserted into the canal either at the hip or the knee. During this procedure, a specially designed metal rod is inserted into the canal of the femur. Intramedullary nailing.Ĭurrently, the method most surgeons use for treating femoral shaft fractures is intramedullary nailing. In some cases, an external fixator is left on until the femur is fully healed, but this is not common. An external fixator provides good, temporary stability until the patient is healthy enough for the final surgery. Because they are easily applied, external fixators are often put on when a patient has multiple injuries and is not yet ready for a longer surgery to fix the fracture. This device is a stabilizing frame that holds the bones in the proper position.Įxternal fixation is usually a temporary treatment for femur fractures. The pins and screws are attached to a bar outside the skin. In this type of operation, metal pins or screws are placed into the bone above and below the fracture site. External fixation.Įxternal fixation is often used to hold the bones together temporarily when the skin and muscles have been injured. It keeps your leg straight and often helps to relieve pain. Skeletal traction is a pulley system of weights and counterweights that holds the broken pieces of bone together. This is to keep your broken bones as aligned as possible and to maintain the length of your leg. The open wound, tissues, and bone will be cleaned during surgery.įor the time between initial emergency care and your surgery, your doctor may place your leg either in a long-leg splint or in traction. To reduce the risk of infection, open fractures are treated with antibiotics as soon as you arrive at the hospital. Sometimes it will be delayed until other life-threatening injuries or unstable medical conditions are stabilized. Most femur fractures are fixed within 24 to 48 hours. Very young children are sometimes treated with a cast. It is unusual for femoral shaft fractures to be treated without surgery. Most femoral shaft fractures require surgery to heal. We offer diagnosis and treatment in over 70 specialties and subspecialties, as well as programs, services, and support to help you stay well throughout your lifetime. ODG evidence-based treatment guidelines are designed for clinical practice as well as utilization review and medical management.BMC physicians are leaders in their fields with the most advanced medical technology at their fingertips and working alongside a highly skilled nursing and professional staff. ODG by MCG Treatment Guidelines Interface Technical Specification – ODG for Auto Injury.Technical Specification – ODG for Disability.Technical Specification – ODG for Workers’ Compensation.Reserving/Cost Modeling for Auto Injury.Enhanced Clinical Content for Auto Injuries.Costs Models for Auto Injury Resolution.Length of Disability with LTD Predictor.
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