Articles Posted in Femur Fracture

Research Shows Costs for Osteoporosis and Femur Fractures is Rising

Recently, a news article was published showing that the cost of care for individuals with osteoporosis, which can lead to femur fractures, has risen more than 118 percent in the United States. Osteoporosis is one of the major risk factors for broken bones which includes fractures of the femur. According to information presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, the costs related to osteoporosis are rising rapidly, having more than doubled in the past 15 years. Because osteoporosis can lead to significant complications, including broken bones, it is essential for everyone to understand this health condition and its risks.

Using Magnets to Repair Femur Fracture 

The Rice University Brown School of Engineering is working to improve the process of femur fracture repair by using magnets. If someone sustains a fractured femur and the bone has been displaced, surgery is often required to move the bones back into the proper position. This usually involves a network of plates, screws, and rods which are used to hold the bones in place while they heal. This process isn’t perfect, and, sometimes, surgical procedures of this nature can be challenging.

Femur Fracture Compression Plate Study 

A recent research study looked at the efficacy of a femur fracture compression plate. These plates are a new development and merge locking screws with compression plate technology to repair bone fractures. The plates are made out of stainless steel and have been manufactured to have an anatomic shape and profile. This shape is essential for making sure that they mesh well with the bones, causing minimal irritation.

A Cartilage Repair Procedure after a Serious Injury

Cartilage plays a critical role in the health of bones, particularly joints. The cartilage is the soft tissue that provides a cushion between bony surfaces. When bones rub together, the resulting friction can result in severe pain. This is the discomfort that people often feel with diseases such as osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The lack of cartilage can lead to chronic pain.

Knee Replacement Femur Fracture Treatment

Recently, a case report was published describing a knee replacement as a possible treatment for a serious femur fracture. A distal femur fracture is an injury that takes place near the union of the femur and the knee. These injuries have the potential to cause devastating complications because of injuries to both the femur and the knee. Distal femur fractures often occur following a high-energy impact, such as an auto accident. Because these high-energy accidents often lead to polytrauma, it is critical to have the treatment plan in place when the individual arrives. Rapid medical treatment can result in an improved patient outcome. If someone has been diagnosed with a distal femoral fracture, one of the treatment options might be a knee replacement. That was the focus of a case report that described a knee replacement femur fracture treatment. This case report gives hope to individuals who have been diagnosed with a major femur injury.

Stem Cells Can Help with the Healing Process

A recent study demonstrated that stem cells can be used to expedite the healing process following a major fracture, such as a broken femur. Bone fractures can vary markedly in their scope and severity. When the fragments of a bone are not lined up, the two most common treatment options are bone grafts and surgical reduction (such as an open reduction and internal fixation). These two treatment options carry significant risk. There has been a push in the medical field to develop alternative treatment options. According to a team of researchers, they might have found a suitable alternative involving stem cells. Their research has the potential to change how major femur fractures are repaired.

Complications of Locked Plates on Femur Fractures

Femur fracture research has been a focus of the medical community over the past few years. This is because these types of fractures have the potential to lead to long-term complications. To keep this from happening, doctors and researchers have come up with multiple ways to repair these fractures. One standard option today is the use of metal plates and screws.

What Causes Delayed Healing?

A femur fracture is a severe injury, and the recovery process usually takes weeks to months. With proper medical care, most people will make a full recovery after a fracture of the femur. Unfortunately, there are some circumstances where femur fracture healing might be delayed. When the femur fracture healing process is prolonged, individuals may struggle to return to work or school promptly. This can place their family members under a significant amount of stress. For this reason, everyone needs to understand a few of the reasons why the healing process following a femur fracture might be delayed.

Femur Fracture Injuries

A femur fracture is severe and is frequently complicated by numerous other associated injuries. Some of these injuries include other bone fractures, torn ligaments, and damaged tendons. Tendons anchor muscles to bones and allow the muscles to move the bones in the proper direction. When the tendons constrict, they pull on the muscles, which then shift the bones to perform various tasks. If the tendons are torn, the muscles are unable to act on the bones and movement is impaired. As a result, torn tendons associated with a femur fracture can be devastating and can lead to long-term mobility problems.

Femur Fracture Recovery

The recovery process following a femur fracture doesn’t stop once the bone has healed because the leg is going to feel extremely stiff. This happens because the muscles around the femur, such as the quadriceps and hamstring muscles, haven’t been used in several weeks. As a result, these muscles have undergone significant atrophy and need to be strengthened once again. This is where exercises play a critical role in helping someone complete the recovery process following a break of the femur bone. These exercises are crucial because not only do they reverse muscle atrophy, but they can also prevent someone from re-injuring their leg.