Dear Sir I had an accident and had a fracture in my legs left neck of the femur boneon 2.01.1996. I was operated and 3 canulated screws where fixed later the screws where removed after one complete year. I used to have pain ocassionaly once in a year at cold seasons. but now before two days I played volleyball and I have severe pain in the same place as well as I have pain in my left buttocks, further I am not able to walk properly.

Could you please tell me wheather this is because I played ball is there again chances of any crack in the same neck of the femur ? Normally how many years does it take to heal completely it si already 5 years now.

expecting your reply Thanking you docter.

Subash.

-- subash (subash33@emirates.net.ae), September 01, 2001

Answers

Response to left neck of the femur bone was fractured

Generally, if a bone is going to heal, it will heal within the first year. I doubt that there is any possibility that you still have this fracture at five years after walking on it every day. However, fractures of the femoral neck can lead to a loss of blood supply in the femoral head and the femoral head can undergo degeneration called "avascular necrosis." It is impossible to tell without any x- ray whether you have an "avascular necrosis" or not. You may also have some early osteoarthritic degeneration of the hip and this may account for your symptoms.

Please let me know if we can be of any further assistance.

-- Marc Hungerford, M.D. (mhunger@jhmi.edu), February 08, 2002.