Broken Femur from a Serious Car Crash
It’s not unusual for people to suffer a broken bone or two, particularly during childhood. Some kids may slip and fall on a pool deck. Other people may take a wild jump off of a trampoline or fall out of a tree. While broken wrists and arms are common, a broken femur is relatively uncommon. This is because the femur is one of the largest, thickest, and strongest bones in the human body. A broken femur requires a tremendous amount of force, such as that sustained in a serious car accident.
What is the Femur?
The human body is made up of many bones that come in all shapes and sizes. The femur is the large bone that makes up the upper part of the leg, also known as the thigh. The femur connects the knee and lower leg to the hip and pelvis. The head of the femur is a circular ball that inserts into the acetabulum. It is known as a ball and socket joint that allows for a tremendous amount of rotation. The length of the femur acts as an insertion point for the quadriceps muscles that power the leg when people walk and run. The femur is a thick bone that can withstand a significant amount of force.
How is a Broken Femur Sustained?
Because the femur is so thick, it requires a significant amount of force to break. In a trucking accident, the driver could wind up in a head-on collision with either another car or a stationary object. When this happens, the front of the car can cave in. This helps to spread the force of the accident across a longer amount of time that could save the driver’s life; however, the driver’s legs can be broken as the front of the car collapses. If the car was moving at high speed, the driver can sustain both a femur fracture and a fibula fracture.
How Will I Know if I Have a Broken Femur?
If a person has a broken femur, there are a number of symptoms that people can look for. Patients who have a broken femur will be unable to walk or move their legs without pain. They may notice a significant amount of swelling along their upper leg. They will also have pain when they press on their thigh. If the break is open, patients may even notice their bone sticking out of their leg along with a large amount of bleeding. Patients should watch for these signs to tell them that they have a broken leg.
Contact an Experienced Bone Fracture Attorney
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Bone Fracture Attorney. A broken femur is considered a traumatic injury. If you have been injured in an accident, call me at (916) 921-6400 for friendly, free advice. I can be reached toll-free at (800) 404-5400.
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