The femur is the bone that supports our weight, so if it is damaged it must be operated urgently. To align the fractured bones, the orthopaedic surgeon makes a small incision through the skin at one end of the fractured bones. The intramedullary nail forms a separate inner splint to stabilise the fracture.
Intramedullary Diving Operation Risk
As with all procedures, this carries some risks and complications.
Common
- Pain: After the operation you will notice that the area is sore, over time the pain will fade. If the pain persists, call one of the doctors so that they can give you antibiotics.
- Bleeding: There will inevitably be some bleeding.
- Infection: The area where they have performed the operation may become painful or red, this may be signs of infection you may need to take antibiotics to cure those infections.
- Numbness: When touching the nerves, the skin may be temporarily or permanently numb.
Less Common
- Stiffness: You may feel some stiffness in the operated area, but physical therapy will reduce stiffness.
- Fat Embolism: Fat in the middle of the bone may spread to the blood and eventually to the lungs.
- Deep Venous Thrombosis: A blood clot in a vein. The risks of developing DVT are higher after any surgery. Your surgeon may give you medicine to try to limit your risk of DVT. Starting to walk as soon as possible is one of the best ways to prevent blood clots from forming.
- Catheterization: They can pass a tube into the bladder, this is usually temporary.
Rare
- Compartment syndrome is a serious condition that involves increased pressure in a muscle compartment. It can lead to nerve and muscle damage, as well as problems with blood flow.
- Damaged Skin: Because of the tourniquet, your skin may be damaged or numb.
- Remove metal fasteners: If metal fasteners (screws, bolts, metal plate, etc.) damage the skin or become infected, they can be removed for greater comfort and mobility.
- Abnormal wound healing: The scar may become red, thick and painful, this type of abnormal scarring is more common in Afro-Caribbean people.
- Deformity in the leg: The bone may not heal in the correct place and may cause this anomaly, it can be solved thanks to physiotherapy.
- Lack of Consolidation: This is due to the fact that the ends of the bones do not consolidate. In this case, a bone graft may be necessary.