Paediatric Thighbone (Femur) Fracture

The femur or thighbone is the largest and strongest bone in the human body. Paediatric thighbone fractures can occur when your child falls hard on the ground and gets hit during sports, automobile accidents, and child abuse. In a thighbone fracture, the broken bones may be aligned or displaced. The fracture can either be closed (with skin intact) or open (with the bone piercing out through the skin). Your child may experience severe pain, swelling, inability to stand and walk, and limited range of motion of hip or knee.

Your child’s doctor will conduct a physical examination. An X-ray or CT-scan may be recommended to locate the position and number of fractures, and determine if the growth plate is damaged. Femur fractures may be treated with non-surgical or surgical methods.

Non-surgical treatment involves stabilizing the bones so they can heal and fuse together. Braces, spica casting (cast applied from the chest, down the fractured leg to the toes) or traction (placing the patient on a bed with their leg held in the correct position by a system of pulleys and weights) may be used to ensure that the bones are properly set in their normal position.

Surgery is recommended for complicated injuries. Your child’s surgeon aligns the broken bones and uses metal plates and screws or flexible nails to hold the fractured bones together in proper alignment. Your child may have to wear a brace for a few weeks until healing is complete. An external fixator may be used in case of complex injuries to the skin and muscles.