Subtrochanteric Fracture of the Femur
I’m Ed Smith, an Injury Lawyer in Sacramento. The femur is broken up into different parts including the femoral head, the femoral neck, and the femoral shaft. One type of femur fracture is termed a subtrochanteric femur fracture.
What is a Subtrochanteric Femur Fracture?
The femur has a tuberosity termed the greater trochanter on one side with the lesser trochanter on the other side. A bone fracture below the greater and lesser trochanter is called a subtrochanteric fracture of the femur. This injury has a few characteristics that patients and medical professionals must remember.
Mechanism of Injury
This type of fracture is a traumatic injury that often results from serious, high-energy events, such as an auto accident. It is also possible to develop this type of fracture from a fall from a great height; however, a patient with osteoporosis has weaker bones and could get this type of fracture from a lower height, such as a slip and fall injury. There are many different ways that someone could get this type of a femur fracture.
Treatment of a Subtrochanteric Femur Fracture
It is important to get imaging of this fracture as quickly as possible to both assess for the possibility of other injuries as well as to look at the bones to see whether or not they have been displaced. After this, it is vital to repair the bone fractures as quickly as possible to improve the prognosis for regaining function and mobility. Patients should try to get out of bed as soon as possible once given permission to prevent the possibility of infection or pneumonia.
Complications may Occur
There are multiple comorbidities that might occur with this type of femur fracture. One of the risks is called malunion, which happens when the bones heal out of proper alignment. This typically results from a late diagnosis after the healing process has already begun (although the bones are healing out of position).
Other Structures are at Risk
The nerves are always at risk with any type of fracture in the limb. The femoral nerve runs nearby and the sciatic nerve runs down the back. These must always be examined whenever an injury to this area occurs because the nerve could be damaged by one of the bone fragments
Differential Diagnosis
Other diagnoses must be considered even if this injury shows up on imaging. There are multiple other fracture types that could occur in this area, such as:
- Femoral head fracture
- Intertrochanteric fracture
- Femoral neck fracture
- Fracture of the femoral shaft
- Fracture of either malleolus
Injury Prognosis
The prognosis is going to depend on how quickly the bones get put back together and on the integrity of the other structures in this location. Furthermore, older patients tend to have longer recovery times.
Surgery is Possible
If the bones have been displaced, surgery will be needed to put them back into their proper anatomical location.
Experienced Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, an Injury Lawyer in Sacramento. Those who have broken their leg in a car accident may call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for friendly and free legal advice.
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Image Source: The GFDL, version 1.2, allows this image to be used in this capacity. Printed from Wikimedia Commons.
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