How long does it take to walk after a broken femur?

Full recovery from a femur fracture can take anywhere from 12 weeks to 12 months. But you are not alone. Most people experiencing a femur fracture can begin walking with the help of a physical therapist in the first day or two after injury and/or surgery.

How long after femur surgery can I walk without a walker?

If the femur fracture does not require surgery, it is often treated with a cast or removable brace, and patients are typically advised not to put any weight on the leg for about 8 weeks. A physical therapist will help the patient to walk safely using crutches or a walker, or other assistive device.

How long is rehab for a broken femur?

Recovery most often takes 4 to 6 months. The length of your recovery will depend on how severe your fracture is, whether you have skin wounds, and how severe they are.

When do you start weight bearing after femur fracture?

After the fracture has been open reduced and internally fixed, there is debate on postoperative management of weight bearing. Weight bearing following fixation is generally restricted for 6 to 12 weeks until radiologic evidence of evidence demonstrates sufficient callous.

Can you fracture your femur and still walk?

In fact, some people may even be able to walk on a fractured leg depending on where their injury is. 1 While all fractures cause pain, there are other signs to look out for that may indicate that a bone is broken.

Post surgical recovery time

What are the long term effects of a broken femur?

Long-term symptoms after fracture include muscular weakness, limited standing and walking, gait abnormalities, some intermittent pain, and inability to return to preinjury work. Surgical management is rarely needed to treat femoral stress fractures; however, surgical stabilization is recommended for recalcitrant cases.

What is the fastest way to heal a broken femur?

How do I know if my femur is healing?

Your doctors may see signs of healing on x-rays about 6 weeks after surgery, but it normally takes 3 months or more for the femur to fully heal. If your femur doesn't heal, you may need another surgery to help the bone heal. This surgery would usually include placing additional hardware and may require bone grafting.

How long does it take to bend knee after femur surgery?

It will take atleast 3-4 months time to get full flexion. Don't try to bend it by yourself . Visit your nearest physio clinic.

How long are you in the hospital after femur surgery?

The average time from arrival to surgery was 17 hours. The average time from surgery to physical therapy was 1.3 days. Patients who had surgery more than 24 hours after arrival stayed longer. Patients requiring placement stayed 2.4 days longer until placement was found.

Does a broken femur qualify for disability?

If you have a fracture of the femur, pelvis, tibia or one or more of the tarsal bones, listing 1.06 may qualify for disability benefits if your condition is so severe that you cannot walk without using a cane, walker or crutches. It must also limit your ability to independently perform and finish activities.

How long does it take to go from non weight bearing to full weight bearing?

According to a survey of the members of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons, the average time period for non-weight bearing is five to eight weeks depending on the patient and the injury.

How soon can I drive after femur surgery?

In this situation it has been suggested that driving may be resumed 1 week after surgery if permitted by the driver's postoperative pain.

How long does pain last after femur surgery?

You can expect some pain and swelling around the cut (incision) the doctor made. This should get better within a few days after your surgery. But it is normal to have some pain for 2 to 3 weeks after surgery and mild pain for up to 6 weeks after surgery.

What slows down bone healing?

Smoking and high glucose levels interfere with bone healing. For all patients with fractured bones, immobilization is a critical part of treatment because any movement of bone fragments slows down the initial healing process.

How serious is a broken femur in the elderly?

A femur break is a serious break at any age but it can be deadly to seniors that are 65 years and older. The femur is the longest bone in the body. Femur breaks/fractures are most likely at the hip but in some cases can be at the lower extremities.

How do you get rid of a limp on a broken femur?

Pull your toes towards you and clench you thigh muscles. Slowly lift your foot up off the bed until your knee is straight (keep your knee resting on the towel). Hold for 3 secs and slowly lower them on the chair. Repeat 10 times twice a day.

How much vitamin D should I take for a broken bone?

These findings were summarized in a clinical recommendation: based on the available evidence for preventing falls and fractures, a general supplementation with at least 800 U/d of vitamin D should be considered in persons aged 60 years or older.

Does drinking water help heal broken bones?

As your bones lose minerals and need to rebuild and strengthen, a lack of available calcium can lead to bone loss and eventually osteoporosis. Since water also helps rid the body of toxins, these substances can and do build up in the bones if there is not enough water to carry them away.

What food helps bones heal?

Iron helps your body make collagen to rebuild bone. It also plays a part in getting oxygen into your bones to help them heal. Good sources: Red meat, dark-meat chicken or turkey, oily fish, eggs, dried fruits, leafy green veggies, whole-grain breads, and fortified cereals.

Can you run again after femur fracture?

If you develop a completed fracture you are done running for an extended time, and maybe forever. Part of healing will require rest and time, with a gradual resumption of weight bearing under the direction of your physician. In addition, you'll need to have adequate calories, vitamin D, calcium, and estrogen.

Is knee pain normal after femur surgery?

Some knee stiffness is expected after a distal femur fracture. Moving your knee soon after surgery is the best way to prevent stiffness. If you have lost significant knee motion and your fracture is healing, your doctor may suggest an additional operation to break up scar tissue around the kneecap.

How long does it take to learn to walk again after broken leg?

You'll be given advice by your doctor about how much you should move your leg and when you can put weight on it. It takes around 6 to 8 weeks for a minor fracture to heal. You'll probably need to use crutches or a wheelchair during this time, until it's possible to put weight on the leg again.

Does leg get shorter after femur fracture?

Nailing comminuted femur fractures may result in leg shortening, producing significant complications including pelvic tilt, narrowing of the hip joint space, mechanical and functional changes in gait, an increase in energy expenditures, and strains on spinal ligaments, leading to spinal deformities.