HomeAnswersOrthopedician and Traumatologyfemur fractureHow long will it take for my femur fracture to heal after surgery?

Does my open femur fracture need immobilization after surgery?

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Answered by

Dr. Anuj Gupta

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Sneha Kannan

Published At December 6, 2021
Reviewed AtJanuary 19, 2024

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I had an open femur fracture recently. They performed open reduction with internal fixation. When I saw my second x-ray (after surgery), a large, fractured piece moved out of position. They did not immobilize my leg, and I had severe blood loss after the surgery, and it took them five days to notice. I am questioning the hospital for their aftercare of the surgery.

Answered by Dr. Anuj Gupta

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Would you please attach pre-operative and post-operative x-rays?

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

Thank you for answering. I am attaching the pre and post-operative x-rays and sorry for the late reply. I do not have high hopes for my recovery and rehabilitation as it has been almost two months. The doctors tell me not to worry and say there is progress, but this is very hard for me to believe.

Answered by Dr. Anuj Gupta

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have gone through your x-rays (attachments removed to protect patient's identity). First of all, it is not a simple fracture, but a badly comminuted fracture, and I should appreciate that it is nicely done. But in such a comminuted fracture, there is always a chance of non-union. I think two months is relatively short for a fracture like this to heal. Consider somewhere around six months to look for signs of healing. If not, we have to take a call if bone grafting needs to be done or not.

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

Thank you for answering. The surgeon was pretty sure a second operation was necessary. He allowed me to bear weight on that leg, but I was scared to do anything with it. I think there are loose bone fragments in my leg, but they cannot confirm it. I still do not understand why they did not immobilize it to keep everything together for healing.

Answered by Dr. Anuj Gupta

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Well, immobilization does not help after six weeks. Also, complete immobilization delays healing as the blood supply reduces, and many other factors are there. So whatever your doctor is suggesting is fine.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Anuj Gupta
Dr. Anuj Gupta

Spine Surgery

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Read answers about:

femur fractureimmobilization

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Orthopedician and Traumatology

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy