Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with femur

Stuck in bed for the summer

bahama mama — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 09:16:36 -0800

I just found out my 14 year old niece broke both her femur and tibia and will be in a cast from hip to toe for the next 6 weeks! I want to put together a care package - any suggestions? I don't know her that well, but I do know she is very into sports such as soccer and basketball. She doesn't play video games, so that's out, and I don't know what type of music or tv she likes. Help! What are some things I could give her to occupy her time while she is basically bed-ridden for the summer? Any books that are popular with the teens I should know about? (I checked with her mom but she said "anything" will be appreciated.)

intramedullary nails versus plating

trashcan — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 08:52:54 -0800

What are the risks and benefits of intramedullary nails versus plating in a proximal shaft of femur fracture?

SF Bay Area Physical Therapist for active older person?

harkin banks — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:31:14 -0800

My 74-year-old father-in-law broke his femur skiing last week. Please recommend a physical therapist in the SF Bay Area for a very active older person. He's not really sure how it happened, but before lunch on his first day of the ski season my f-i-l wiped out hard and broke his femur in two places. Fortunately the fracture was not compound and did not cause major bleeding, but he did need surgery to repair the break. As a result he now has a titanium rod inserted into his leg as well as some good drugs.

After getting released from the hospital this morning, he's facing a few months of recovery, during which everyone agrees that it would be a good idea for him to get some physical therapy. However, my wife is concerned that your garden-variety PT will read her father's chart and see a geezer with a broken hip (he's 74). That's true -- but he's a very active guy. He's got more energy than I have, and I'm half his age. He really needs something more than a program designed to return him to a weekly bridge game at the local senior center.

Any suggestions for a good PT who has experience dealing with sports injuries in older folks, or suggestions of how to find one? This is in the SF bay area -- east bay would be preferable but not required.

break a leg...

dflemingdotorg — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 10:53:05 -0800

how likely is it that I'm walking on a broken leg? i took a fairly nasty spill two days ago and now my upper leg is in somewhat serious pain. i am going to see a doctor, but my sense of urgency is swayed by my backed up schoolwork. it is a silly decision, i know, so maybe you can talk me into hitting the clinic.

it's not a pull or a tear of a muscle, i know what those feel like. this is an ache, pressure to the left side of my leg hurts it and walking and stretching tend to bring out a dull pain. i can't feel a bone sticking out but i also can't really push too hard on it without giving up from the pain.

i know that given the location, if it's a break surgery might be necessary and a ton of recovery is needed, but im wondering if it's possible to fracture or break your femur and still walk around on it with a noticable limp? would the symptons suggest a bone bruise instead?

this is a pre-doctor inquiry just to get a sense of how urgently i should proceed to the several hour wait in the emergency room. i can live with it as it is but don't want to risk permanent problems.