anyone else have this done to their leg?
 

Just returned last night from a 2 day hospital stay. Was biking when a car made a quick turn into the path of me crossing the street. Prob only a 10-15 mph hit, but when landing, my left leg hit the pavement first and forced it in the wrong direction. Femur bone making a bulge in my upper leg just below the hip, like a big goider!
They used this procedure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI2Jvgt9Z8c
Sent me home the day after surgery with a walker...which is not fun. Right now, can't put any weight on that leg.
Anyone that has had this done..how long did it take to be able to take some steps w/o the walker...or drive (clutch car)

It will be a while. If you smoke, stop, today.

More than a couple weeks? I don't smoke..5'10 weigh 155...but I am almost 64yo

Sorry to hear Steve,

I can't directly answer your question and am too squeamish to watch the video, but about 4 years ago I took my bicycle to the ground on a huge ice patch breaking both the lower bones- the main one got a rod and screws in it and the other had to just heal by being immobile. One day in the hospital; could have left a bit earlier, but nurse was super cute, so I delayed my ride home by a tad!

I was unable to drive for 8 weeks, doctors orders. Mine was the right leg. 6 weeks before weight on it I think.

Best of luck- stop eating like you did while riding or you'll balloon!

Yeah, the hospital food just gives a person more appetite for good food!
The video is a 3D simulation...so it's not gory.

Ouch! Is this going on the insurance for the person that was driving the car?

I hope you heal fast!

Thanks. I was surprised when they told me that my own car ins is being billed for almost the entire amount...MI is a no-fault state.

Here's to a speedy recovery!

Nothing worse that a broken femur.

The x-rays showed a mass of splintered bone around the break. I asked the surgeon what he does about those? He says "they heal-up on their own"!
Amazing that a body can do that.

Good luck with the recovery Steve. Lets hope you feel like the million dollar man.

My lower leg. Sort of a crappy picture of a crappy picture. Its amazing what they can do. That was 4 years ago. The hardware is still in there but it functions pretty normal.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1495060290.jpg

^^^ That's a lot of hardware in there!

My wife's shattered elbow - post surgery one year ago today.

She has full range of motion, but still some nerve pain.

Good luck on your recovery!

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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1495060802.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1495060829.jpg

They call it the " Black and Decker school of medicine"
Had three screws put in the head of my femur in '91, I think it was, motorcycle accident. Then, I had them removed a few years later....THEN another 15 or so had a total hip resurface (kind of a replacement type of thing) since the cartilage was gone. . Just chill out and read books & watch movies. Bone's always heal slower than you want them to, 5-6 weeks? Maybe three on crutches then three with a cane. You can probably ditch the walker right now if you are 'good at crutches' 3 weeks post op you can also get on an exercise bicycle and make your s/o shoot you some worried looks. Get off the pain med's asap.
These are all just my opinions having broken.... maybe 8 bones in my life. Femur is a big one, nothing worse except breaking the head... take care bro. Sue that driver.

Glad your OK

I used to sell Femoral Nails. I had one on my desk for years.

Miracles of modern surgery.

Hope you heal fast !

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Thanks all!

Completely broke my femur, textbook break in the middle of the femur. Put a pin from my knee to my hip.
It was many years ago. Took 2 weeks in hospital. Traction for several days before they pinned it. Then had to be able to do stairs on the crutches before they let me out. 8 weeks at home with the keep weight off stipulation. Wasn't until x-rays showed bone was knit back together before they let me put weight on it.

This fine piece of hardware spent a year in my right femur.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1495069015.jpg

So why did they take it out? My Doc sounded like it was staying there in my femur.

While serious, good to know the damage wasn't more extensive.

I was hit by a car riding my bike in college...multiple tib/fib breaks as well as a mushed metatarsals. Changed my life.

My only advice is don't push it. Let your body heal. Billy, don't be a hero:)

I'd post pics of the X-rays but the accident was so long ago W. C. Roentgen was my x-ray technician.

I'm curious as to why in this particular case that you recommend that person stops smoking immediately. Does smoking have an effect on healing?

Smoking has a rather profound adverse effect on healing. It appears to be particularly significant on bone healing, according to the studies I have read.

To the OP: Do as much range of motion stuff as they will allow you to do, as soon as they will let you, but do not bear weight prematurely. Eat as healthy as you are able, plenty of zinc, vitamins C and E, getting it in your diet is probably better than a multivitamin. Not a bad idea to wear support stockings, at least on that side. I believe for the femur fractures thigh high, rather than calf length is preferred. When all is said and done, have someone who knows their business check you for a limb length discrepancy. With committed fractures, the shattered bone they talked about, it is fairly common to end up a bit short on the injured side.

Hmmm. Sounds like you're going to die. Probably after another 20 years have passed...

Seriously, may the healing go well.

^^^ Thanks..I was hoping to get a few more years!

I believe it was the possibility of future injury.

Break the leg again in a manner that bends the hardware, and its nearly impossible to remove it and save the leg. Surgery would be so invasive that amputation of the leg is a likely result.

Tobra, Moses et al will be along shortly to let you know if I'm a maroon.

As I was laying in the hospital, leg in traction awaiting surgery, I was told my days in construction are over.
They cannot guarantee the length of the leg, and I will most likely have a limp the rest of my life.

My sister, who is a nurse, knew this doc had a less than stellar reputation.
She made bunch of phone calls, until after midnight, and lined up an highly respected orthopedic surgeon to perform the surgery.

A year later, I get a call saying it's time to remove the hardware. My response- We have to wait until I'm done framing a house. I'm not going to leave this contractor hanging.

Can't thank Dr. Ozolin enough for taking the extra care. Absolutely no issues whatsoever after the healing process.

Jeez that drilling procedure is barbaric.

when I was wheeled into the operating room, the first thing I noticed was the large human vise connected to the operating table! It was just like an oversized bar clamp.

DO NOT watch youtube videos on surgery that is going to happen to you. It will freak you the hell out.

You need to talk to the surgeon, but you are probably a couple months on crutches/walker/wheelchair before you are walking. When they do send you to physical therapy, bear in mind they are trying to help you, not kill you.

It took a full year before I regained the full range of motion in the knee.

Crutches for several weeks, but began physical therapy on the knee long before bearing any weight. I did whatever I was supposed to do, and have great results.

^^^ Yeah...they are sending therapy people to my house. First one yesterday. He wasn't too hard on me because I had just been released from the hospital. Next one is due here tomorrow and will be rougher.

Thanks...fixed it!

You are probably aware of this but during this time, keep the rest of your body working. I did stretches, sit ups and other light work outs during the 3 months of incarceration of no weight on the leg. Good luck on the recovery.

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This was September 12th this year for me. 50 yrs old no smoke plates and screws are to come out in a few weeks 95% mobility 65% strength.

Yep...trying to do as much as possible and I can already notice an improvement. Fourth day after surgery and I can almost put full pressure on the leg when standing. The only bad thing I've noticed...the more I do..the more the legs swells up. Might have to back off a little.

Did your Dr. do a bone scan on you ?

My Dr said to stay away from milk products due to your urine becomes more acidic and you leach out more calcium That and to stay away from Sodas.

I don't think he did..just reg x-rays.
I normally am not a milk prod user anyway...so that is easy.
Been drinking all water or juice since home.

Bone scan is not really indicated for this, and what you are thinking of is not called a bone scan, I think they call it a dexa scan.

I am not kidding about wearing a support stocking on the injured leg, it will help quite a bit

Yep yep
Neuro that did my laminectomy showed me pictures in his office. I freaked out and fainted.

I will do that.
Thanks.