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Fracture and Trauma Care

Tibia Fracture Repair

Fixation of shin bone fractures, from the knee to the ankle, with a rod, plate and screws or a temporary frame, so the leg heals straight and bears weight again.
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Fracture and Trauma Care

Femur Fracture Repair

Fixation of thigh bone fractures with an intramedullary rod or plate and screws, from high-energy shaft fractures to fragility fractures around the hip and knee.
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ContactTalk toa real person.
Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.
Call801-640-0000
TextSend a text
Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104
Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330
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What it is

Femur Fracture Repair

The femur is the largest bone in the body.
Shaft fractures come from high-energy injuries such as car and motorcycle crashes and falls from height; fractures near the knee also occur in older adults from simple falls.A rod placed down the center of the bone is the standard fixation for shaft fractures. Fractures near the knee, or around an existing knee or hip replacement, are fixed with plates and screws or a specialized rod.
Performed by
Jeffrey Wallentine, MD, Joint Replacement surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. WallentineJoint Replacement
Kevin Christensen, MD, Knee, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. ChristensenKnee, Shoulder and Sports Medicine
J. Ryan Taylor, MD, Shoulder and Sports Medicine surgeon at Ridgeline Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. TaylorShoulder and Sports Medicine
Request an appointment
or call801-640-0000
Femur Fracture Repair

Who It Helps

Essentially every femur fracture in an adult needs surgery, and soon: fixation within a day of injury reduces pain, bleeding and lung complications and allows early movement.Fractures around a hip or knee replacement are treated by the joint replacement team, because the implant and the fracture have to be planned together.
Femur Fracture Repair

What to Expect

Surgery under general or spinal anesthesia, usually one to three hours, often the day of or the day after admission.The rod or plate is placed through small incisions with X-ray guidance.Hospital stays are typically two to five days. Walking with therapy begins within a day or two, with weight bearing set by the fracture pattern.Femur fractures from Utah County highways and canyons are fixed at the admitting hospital, usually the same or next day, by surgeons who follow you afterward in clinic. Dr. Wallentine, Dr. Christensen and Dr. Taylor operate at Utah Valley Hospital and Mountain View Hospital.
Femur Fracture Repair

Recovery Timeline

Many rod-fixed shaft fractures allow weight bearing as tolerated right away; fractures near the knee may need six to twelve weeks of protection. Therapy restores hip and knee motion and quadriceps strength from the first week.
Bone healing takes three to six months, with the thigh muscle recovering over the following months. Running, impact sport and heavy labor return at six to twelve months.
Milestones
Day 1 to 2Walking with therapy
Week 1Home or short rehab
Month 3 to 6Bone healed on X-ray
Month 6 to 12Impact sport, labor
Femur Fracture Repair

Risks and Considerations

Blood clots, bleeding, infection, lung complications early, nerve or vessel injury, stiffness, leg length or rotation differences, hardware irritation and delayed healing or nonunion are the main risks.Fractures into the knee surface raise the long-term risk of arthritis. Older adults with fragility fractures are also treated for bone health to prevent the next fracture.
Femur Fracture Repair

Your Surgeons

Dr. Wallentine, Dr. Christensen and Dr. Taylor perform this procedure at Utah Valley Hospital, Mountain View Hospital, American Fork Hospital, Spanish Fork Hospital and Timpanogos Regional Hospital.
Dr. Wallentine, MD
Thirty-four years in practice. Mako robotic-assisted hip and knee replacement. Stanford sports medicine fellowship. BYU athletics team surgeon.
Dr. Christensen, MD
Andrews Institute sports medicine fellowship under Dr. James Andrews. Board certified in orthopedic surgery and orthopedic sports medicine. Fluent in Spanish.
Dr. Taylor, MD
Dual fellowship trained in sports medicine and in shoulder and elbow surgery. Former Division I football player.
Femur Fracture Repair

Related Procedures and Conditions

Hip Fracture Surgery
Tibia Fracture Repair
Fracture Fixation (ORIF)
Hip Fractures
Post-Traumatic Arthritis
Request an appointment
or call801-640-0000
ContactTalk toa real person.
Two clinics, one number to call or text. Same-day appointments for acute injuries whenever we can. The front desk will match you with the right surgeon.
Call801-640-0000
TextSend a text
Provo1055 N 300 W, Ste 104
Orem700 W 800 N, Ste 330
Request an appointment
Find a clinic
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyPrivacy Practices
NondiscriminationAccessibilityGood Faith Estimate