Joe A Shaw PA-C - 4/28/2009

Question
i suffered a spiral fracture in my femur 7 weeks ago. i had the surgery that put a rod through my bone. my question is what is the appropriate healing time, approx. i am 50 years old and not overweight and basically in good health. i have not been able to bend my knee since surgery

Answer
Kimberlee,
Spiral fractures indicate rather severe trauma, so it will take many months 6-12 mos to improve. I think the average time a rod(AKA Femur nail,intramedullary Rod or nail)is left in place is about 18 mos. Some may be left in longer or shorter depending on if it is giving the patient problems or not. The quadricep muscles(thigh muscles)where the femur resides do play a significant part in knee flexion and extension, so your PT is aware of this and should be guiding you. After 2 mos I would think some knee function should be coming back so I would continue to check w your ortho surgeon.