Femur Fractures Can Lead to Amputation
I’m Ed Smith, Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento. When it comes to a femur fracture, this bone fracture can be quite dangerous. The femur is one of the thickest bones in the body. It makes the upper leg, also called the thigh. While many people with a femur fracture make a full recovery, others can have serious complications. One of the difficulties that are often overlooked is an amputation. According to Access Prosthetics, some of the statistics related to amputation include:
- The leading causes of amputation include trauma and diabetes.
- Below-the-knee amputations are the most common type of limb-loss procedures.
- Most of these amputations occur due to vascular problems.
- Just under 200,000 amputations are performed on lower extremities every year.
- The number of people in this country living with an amputation is expected to double in the next thirty years.
Because of the severity of amputations, it is essential for people to understand why they occur.
Amputations Can Result from a Femur Fracture
When people think about a bone fracture, they often think about receiving a cast for a few weeks, having it removed, and then making a full recovery. For some people, this may not be the case. A review article was recently published discussing how severe leg injuries, such as a femur fracture, can ultimately result in an amputation. A bone fracture in the femur is very different than a fracture of the radius and ulna that most people are familiar with. When people fracture their femur, they have broken one of the largest bones in the body. This requires a tremendous amount of force. Because of this force, there is a high likelihood that the fracture may be displaced. Some of the symptoms of a femur fracture include:
- Pain at the site of the fracture.
- Severe swelling around the leg.
- The inability to move the leg.
- Difficulty walking.
- Possible bleeding with an open rupture.
One of the complications that may occur is termed vascular compromise. The leg, like the rest of the body, depends on a steady blood supply for oxygen and nutrients. In a severe leg injury, such as a significant fracture of the femur, this blood supply might become compromised. A fragment of the femur can break off from the rest of the bone and cut these blood vessels. If this happens, the tissue in the area can start to die. Even though doctors will work hard to re-establish blood circulation, in some cases, it may not be possible. In this situation, amputation of the leg may be necessary.
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Personal Injury Lawyers in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Personal Injury Lawyer in Sacramento. If you or your family member has required an amputation following a femur fracture, please give me a call at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400. I will be happy to share friendly, free advice.
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