Broken femur (thigh bone)

What is a broken femur?

A broken femur (thigh bone) is a break in your child’s longest, largest, heaviest and strongest bone. The femur makes normal standing and walking possible. Although it’s a difficult bone to break, femur fractures in childhood are not uncommon.

Because of the femur’s great strength and size, fractures tend to occur only when the bone is hit with a very strong force. Femur fractures are serious injuries but most can heal without surgical treatment.
 

Broken femur: Reviewed by Travis H. Matheney, MD, MLA
© Boston Children’s Hospital, 2012