Can you break your femur in a car accident?

Femur Fractures The femur, or the thigh bone, is one of the strongest bones in the body and yet is still commonly fractured in a car accident. This can occur due to the car crumpling or the action of bracing oneself for impact.

What type of fracture is most common in car accidents?

Pelvic bone fractures are often thought to be the most common broken bones after car accidents. Fibula (lower leg), and Femur (upper leg). Broken legs are surprisingly common. They usually are strong bones but can break when the force of a wreck crushes the car into the leg with great force.

Is femur fracture a serious injury?

A broken femur is a serious injury that requires immediate medical care. Broken femurs are treated with surgery and physical therapy. It can take months for your broken femur to heal. You can break your femur by being in a car crash, falling or being shot.

How painful is a femur break?

A femoral shaft fracture usually causes immediate, severe pain. You will not be able to put weight on the injured leg, and it may look deformed—shorter than the other leg and no longer straight.

How long is recovery 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 car accident cause a stress fracture?

This type of bodily injury is known as a hairline fracture or stress fracture. After the adrenaline and endorphins have left your system, you may notice some pain or other symptoms. Here is how to know if you have suffered a hairline fracture after a car accident and some of the treatment options available.

Why bones of persons are fractured in an accident?

The breaks are typically caused by the force of the crash, the body being hit with external objects, being thrown forward or backward in an unnatural way, having the limbs and bones twisted or bent unnaturally, being thrown from the car or by being crushed in the crash.

How painful is a fractured femur?

A femur fracture may cause extreme pain in the upper leg area or hip area. It also may cause lesser pain in the buttocks, knee, thigh, groin, or back. You may experience: Difficulty walking, or inability to walk, move the leg, or stand.

What are the symptoms of a comminuted fracture?

Avulsion: A tendon or ligament pulls part of the bone off.

  • Comminuted: The bone shatters into several different pieces.
  • Compression: The bone gets crushed or flattened.
  • Impacted: Bones get driven together.
  • Oblique: The break goes diagonally across the bone.
  • Spiral: The fracture spirals around the bone.

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

    The majority of people who suffer a femur fracture receive specialized treatment in a long-term nursing or rehabilitation facility. Full recovery from a femur fracture can take anywhere from 12 weeks to 12 months; however, most people begin walking with the help of a physical therapist in the first day or two after injury and/or surgery.

    Which definition best describes a comminuted fracture?

    – In 2016, the number of fatalities on the roads in the United States rose by close to 2,000. – In total, there were close to 38,000 people killed in car accidents in 2016. – Fatalities increased from 2015 to 2016 for sedans, pickup trucks, tractor trailers, bicycles, and motorcycles.

    Were do fractures occur most often in the femur?

    Where is the femur most likely to fracture? The distal femur is where the bone flares out like an upside-down funnel. The distal femur is the area of the leg just above the knee joint. Distal femur fractures most often occur either in older people whose bones are weak, or in younger people who have high energy injuries, such as from a car crash.