What is a thighbone fracture?

A thighbone fracture is a break or crack in the bone of your upper leg, called the femur. The break may be just a bend or small crack in the bone, or the bone may break into pieces or shatter. In some fractures, the bone may stick out through the skin.

Thighbone fractures are more likely to happen if you:

• Fall from a high place
• Are in a high-speed collision, such as a car, ski, or snowmobile accident
• Have a medical condition that causes weak or brittle bones
• Take medicine that weakens bones

How can I take care of myself when I go home?

How long it takes to get better depends on your treatment, how well you recover, your overall health, and any complications you may have.

Management

• Your provider will give you a list of your medicines when you leave the hospital.
  • Know your medicines. Know what they look like, how much you should take each time, how often you should take them, and why you take each one.
  • Take your medicines exactly as your provider tells you to.
  • Carry a list of your medicines in your wallet or purse. Include any nonprescription medicines and supplements on the list.
• Your provider may prescribe medicine to:
  • Treat pain
  • Treat or prevent an infection
• You may need to continue a rehabilitation program after you leave the hospital to help you recover from your thighbone fracture. Most rehabilitation programs include:
  • Physical therapy to help you regain muscle strength and teach you ways to move safely
  • Occupational therapy to help you relearn ways to do the tasks that you were able to do before your thighbone fracture
• If you have had surgery, to care for your incision:
  • Keep your incision clean.
  • If you are told to change your dressing on your incision, wash your hands before changing the dressing and after disposing of the dressing.

Appointments

• Follow your provider’s instructions for follow-up appointments and routine tests.
• Talk with your provider about any questions or fears you have.

Diet, Exercise, and Other Lifestyle Changes

• Follow the treatment plan your healthcare provider prescribes.
• Get plenty of rest while you’re recovering. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Drink enough fluids to keep your urine light yellow in color, unless you are told to limit fluids.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking can delay healing.
• Follow activity restrictions, such as not driving or operating machinery, as recommended by your healthcare provider or pharmacist, especially if you are taking pain medicines.

Call your healthcare provider if you have new or worsening:

• Trouble doing your normal daily activities
• Pain that is not controlled with your medicines
• If you had surgery, signs of infection around your surgical wound. These include:
  • The area around your wound is more red or painful.
  • Your wound area is very warm to touch.
  • You have blood, pus, or other fluid coming from the wound area.
  • You have chills or muscle aches.
• Swelling, numbness, abnormal sensations in your leg, ankle, or foot on the side of your thighbone fracture
• Coldness or change in color of the skin of your leg, ankle, or foot on the side of your thighbone fracture
• Warmth, redness, or pain in your leg
• If you notice hardware becoming loose or if you injure your leg again while it is healing
• If you are taking medicine to prevent blood clots, unusual or unexpected bleeding.