Car crashes are the number one cause of femur fractures, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Since the femur, or thighbone, is the strongest bone in the body, these accidents must necessarily be high-impact ones. Perhaps you were in such an accident here in Washington.
Location of the femur fracture
The femur could fracture at three places: the head or neck, which connect to the hip joint; the shaft, or midsection; and the distal end, which links to the knee joint. Hip fractures are less common among crash victims and arise more when elderly people fall. These tend to be stress fractures rather than complete fractures.
Crash victims, especially adolescents and adults, break their femoral shaft or the distal end. Along with the fracture, they may tear their muscles and ligaments, experience blood loss and blood clots and, if the bone sticks out of the skin, run the risk for infection. Most victims need to be transferred right away to the hospital, or they may die.
Various medical treatments
If the femur is not displaced, victims may have a cast placed on the leg. When displacement occurs, the treatment becomes more extensive with doctors inserting a metal rod and metal plates, wires and screws to bring the pieces together and straighten the bone. To prevent infection, doctors may provide an intravenous antibiotic and have patients take oral antibiotics after they leave the hospital.
Pain medications will help ease the pain after surgery. Usually, victims also need to undergo regular physical therapy and rehabilitative care to regain strength in their leg. They will be advised to develop an exercise regimen of their own, too.
Legal representation for an injury case
If the MVA you were in was not your fault, then you can file a claim against the responsible party. With a lawyer by your side, you may be able to seek out a reasonable settlement out of court, litigating if the other side refuses to pay compensation. A successful claim could cover all medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and vehicle repair costs.