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Knee
> Fractured Thighbone
What is a Fractured Thighbone at
the Knee?
The thighbone (femur), the largest bone in the body,
connects the hip and the knee. The bottom section of
the thighbone joins the knee and becomes part of the
knee joint. When the bottom end of the thighbone is
fractured where it meets the knee, it affects the use
of the knee. A thighbone fracture does not actually
occur in the knee. Because the fracture disrupts knee
function and is so close to the knee joint, it is often
classified as a knee fracture.
It takes a severe blow to fracture
the thighbone where it meets the knee. In sports, it
can happen in football and soccer collisions. However,
the injury is most commonly seen as the result violent
collisions such as car accidents. Elderly people are
especially susceptible to thighbone fractures because
of bone density loss and their vulnerability to falling.
There usually are three parts to an
orthopedic evaluation: medical history, a physical examination,
and tests that your physician may order.
Your physician
will likely ask you how you injured your knee, how it
has been feeling since the injury, and if your knee
has been previously injured. These questions can help
determine if there may be other injuries around the
area. Physicians also typically ask about other conditions,
such as diabetes and allergies, and about medications
currently being taken. You may also be asked about your
physical and athletic goals - information that will
help decide what treatment might be best for you.
| PHYSICAL EXAMINATION |
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A physician usually can diagnose a
fractured thighbone by feeling around the area. Tenderness
around the area may also indicate a fracture. Your physician
likely will ask you to extend your knee, possibly after
giving you a local anesthetic to eliminate pain, to
help determine whether there may be additional injuries
in and around your knee.
TESTS
X-rays, taken from several angles, are the best way
to determine the extent of a fractured thighbone. X-rays
may also identify or rule out additional injuries. MRI
(magnetic resonance imaging) and CT scan, commonly referred
to as a CAT scan, may also be requested to see the details
of the fracture.
RELATED TOPICS
 Imaging
techniques
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