Femoral Condyle Fracture

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Femoral Condyle Fracture

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer. The femur is divided into many different parts with the potential for a fracture in each. One region, called the femoral condyle, is a common location of femur fractures.

What is a Femoral Condyle Fracture?

The femoral condyle is a thickened area of the femur just above the knee. It acts to support a significant amount of the patient’s body weight. A bone fracture at this location is termed a femoral condyle fracture.

The Injury Mechanism

traumatic injury in the leg just above the knee, potentially caused by a head-on auto accident, has the ability to cause a femoral condyle fracture. There are other mechanisms as well. In addition, a slip and fall injury, could cause a significant amount of trauma both above and below the knee. These mechanisms can cause this class of femur fracture.

Treatment of a Femoral Condyle Fracture

When a patient comes in with concern for a femoral condyle fracture, it is crucial to image the fracture first. Multiple x-rays could be taken from different angles as medical professionals try to determine the best course of action. Typically, the knee and leg will be immobilized to prevent further injury from occurring. Then, the patient will be placed in a cast to allow the bones to heal. After this, physical therapy may be necessary to restore the proper range of motion to the knee.

The Potential for Complications

There are numerous comorbidities that could crop up with this type of a fractured femur. Osteoarthritis is a major concern with this type of fracture because of the potential for cartilage damage. This is the cushion between the upper and lower leg. Erosion of this can occur with a fracture and lead to arthritis.

Other Structures are Vulnerable to Injury

There are many different nerves that run through this region that could be injured; however, the ligaments of the knee are most at risk. The ACL and MCL could be damaged by a jerking or twisting motion that leads to a femoral condyle fracture. The LCL and PCL could be damaged as well.

Differential Diagnosis

There are many other diagnoses that must be considered with this injury, such as:

  • Fracture of the malleoli
  • Knee Dislocation
  • Femoral shaft fracture
  • Subtrochanteric Femur Fracture
  • Supracondylar Femur Fracture

Injury Prognosis

This type of an injury typically heals in a few weeks without any long-term issues; however, damage to the ligaments of the knee could change the prognosis. That is why every case is handled on an individual basis.

Surgery is Possible

It is possible that an MRI scan could reveal tears in some of the ligaments of the knee. In this situation, surgery will be needed to repair these other structures.

Sacramento Femur Fracture Lawyer & Personal Injury Attorney

I’m Ed Smith, and I have served the community as a Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer for 35 years. Individuals who have suffered a knee or femur fracture in an accident may reach out to me by calling for free and friendly legal advice. I do have a line that is toll-free for those outside of the local area at: (800) 404-5400.

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Image Credit: re-printed with permission granted from the 3.0 version of the CC BY SA document, from Wikimedia Commons.

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