Recovery Insights for Femur and Clavicle Fractures After Accident - Orthopedics

Dr. Chen Xingyuan reply Orthopedics

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Dear Reader,
The primary purpose of surgery is to reduce pain and promote functional recovery.
Therefore, surgery is just the first step; you must also take good care of yourself and engage in active rehabilitation to minimize the losses caused by the injury.
Below are the answers to your questions:
1.
Whether you have a leg length discrepancy depends on the condition of your bone fragmentation and fracture reduction, which can be assessed through your post-operative X-rays.
Sometimes, small fragments from the fracture do not require intervention; the goal of addressing them is to achieve better alignment and increased stability.
However, this may disrupt the blood circulation to the bone fragments, potentially leading to nonunion of the fracture.
2.
The surgical wound is not left unstitched; it is closed with subcutaneous sutures and cosmetic adhesive strips.
The ends of the wound or one side should have knotted suture ends, which can be cut approximately two weeks post-surgery or allowed to fall off naturally, which may take four to five weeks.
After they are cut or fall off, you can bathe normally.
You should appreciate your surgeon's thoughtfulness, as subcutaneous sutures result in more aesthetically pleasing scars.
3.
Injuries from car accidents are often multiple.
Initially, you may only notice the more severe injuries and overlook other, less serious ones.
If you experience any discomfort, you should inform your physician, as only a medical examination can confirm the issues.
4.
Your daily calcium intake should be between 1200 to 1500 milligrams, but the average calcium intake in Taiwan is about 500 milligrams, which is significantly below the recommended amount.
Milk is a rich source of calcium, with approximately 1 milligram of calcium per 1 cc of milk.
It is best to obtain calcium from daily food sources; if sufficient calcium cannot be obtained from food, then calcium supplements should be considered.
It is quite common for Asians to lack lactase or to be allergic to milk; in such cases, low-lactose milk, calcium supplements, or other high-calcium foods such as cheese, tofu, soy milk, small fish, dark green vegetables, and sesame can be used.
5.
Since you have fractures in both your upper and lower limbs, it is best to consult your physician regarding the timing for walking practice.
You may need to wait about six weeks post-surgery, until the condition of your left upper limb stabilizes.
However, at this stage, you should still engage in joint mobility and muscle rehabilitation exercises.
If you are unsure how to practice or do not see significant progress, you may need assistance from a rehabilitation specialist.
You can practice raising your left shoulder with the help of your right hand instead of lifting it on your own, adhering to two principles: tolerate mild pain and avoid any sensation of movement in the fractured area.
The goal is to raise it to 180 degrees.
6.
After an injury, it is common to experience stiffness and soreness in the leg muscles, which can be alleviated through heat therapy, hydrotherapy, massage, and medication.
7.
A small area of skin on the mid-thigh lacking sensation indicates damage to the superficial sensory nerves, which may have occurred during the injury or surgery.
This will not affect function, and most surrounding nerves will regenerate, but the extent of recovery varies from person to person.
8.
Avoid cigarettes and stimulating foods such as alcohol, tea, and coffee.
It is advisable to increase your intake of calcium and protein.
9.
Most fractures can achieve good recovery, but this requires close cooperation with your physician.
The extent of recovery is related to the severity of the injury, the presence of complications, and the level of active rehabilitation.
Injury is a fact that has occurred; the only way forward is to face it bravely and cooperate with medical treatment to minimize losses, allowing for the expectation of returning to a normal life.
Wishing you health and safety!
Sincerely,
Dr.
Chen

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Reply Date: 2006/10/27