Can a broken femur heal without surgery?

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A relative of mine has recently been diagnosed with a broken femur (an oblique break at the top of the femur bone). She has severe osteoporosis which is likely what cause the break as it was done simply by sitting down. When taken to A&E, she was told she'd need surgery and would be admitted overnight and surgery would take place the next day. we were told the break was quite bad as the bone had move a lot.

Shortly after, she was then told she wouldn't need surgery (thankfully) and sent home and told to try to walk/move around as much as possible. I'm just wondering how a bone is supposed to heal if you're walking around on it? Will it not make the bone move further?

In all honesty, the doctors/surgeons/nurses didn't fill me with confidence as no-one seemed to talk to each other and no-one knew what was going on. She'll be going back to the fracture clinic shortly for a further opinion.

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1 Reply

  • Posted

    It will all depend on exactly where the fracture occurred and if its perfectly aligned and even then its not guaranteed especially if the blood supply is compromised.

    As for walking on it she needs to be absolutely sure its the right thing to do and my advice would be to go back and see either her GP or the consultant who passed her fit to weight bear completely.

    I'm a reciprecant of bad advice after a hip fracture and still on crutches after 3 years.

    If the hip needed surgery one minute what tests did they carry out to change their decision

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