Without surgery—anesthesia will be used while the doctor moves the pieces back into place
With surgery—pins, screws, plates, or a rod may be needed to reconnect the pieces and hold them in place

Supportive Care

The goals of treatment are to manage pain and support the bone as it heals. This may include:

Medicine to ease pain
A cast or splint to keep the leg in place as it heals
A walker or crutches to keep weight off the leg
Exercises to help with strength and range of motion

Children's bones have growth plates that let bones grow and harden with age. A child with a fracture may need to be checked over time to make sure the bone heals the right way and keeps growing.

Prevention

Most fractures are due to accidents. Always wear a seatbelt. Healthy bones and muscles may also prevent injury. This may be done through diet and exercise.

RESOURCES:

American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine
http://www.sportsmed.org

Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://www.orthoinfo.org

CANADIAN RESOURCES:

Canadian Orthopaedic Association
http://www.coa-aco.org

Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation
http://www.canorth.org

References:

Femoral shaft fracture—emergency management. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dyname.... Accessed September 24, 2019.

Femoral stress fracture. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/femoral-stress-fracture. Updated May 3, 2018. Accessed September 24, 2019.

Femur shaft fractures (broken thighbone). Ortho Info—American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated May 2018. Accessed September 24, 2019.

Tins BJ, Garton M, et al. Stress fracture of the pelvis and lower limbs including atypical femoral fractures-a review. Insights Imaging. 2015 Feb;6(1):97-110.

Last reviewed September 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Warren A. Bodine, DO, CAQSM
Last Updated: 8/21/2020

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