whats next?????????????

[mrstbond]

Does anyone know how long it takes to heal a non-union femur? I am a fourty six yr old female that has been on crutches for twenty five yrs because i was in a car wreak back in 1988 and I had a compound fracture on my right femur I have had sevaral surgery on it but failed everytime. I have not gave up hope to one day get off crutches. i havent had a surgery four about six yrs now so i was wondering if anyone has had a non-union that has not healed and if they have came out with something new in the medical field last few yrs that they can try? PLEASE HELP AND WRITE BACK !!!!!!!!!!!!

[mrstbond]

is it posible for a broken femur cut a main artery. and have you ever heard of this happening? I'm talking about a nonunion femur cutting artery. Is a non-union life threating?

[MH Community Mgr]

Hi,

Wanted to share with you a link to our new Stem Cell Transplant community:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Stem-Cell-Transplant/show/1427

Please feel free to post there, too.  Perhaps, somebody on that community may also be able to help.

Best,

Cheryl
MH Community Mgr

[mrstbond]

Thank you very much for your response. They have allready tryed a bone graph it failed too. I have had the nail it broke I have had it plated it too snapped in half in time I had a external fixader I had it in for about six months were the did a cordacodame and i grew two and three quarter of a inch but they had to take it out early because it started twisting my bone. then they plated it. Still nonunion did not heal but i smoked. I have quit smoking about eight yr ago. they have not tryed to fix it since i quite. I did go to a doctor about five yrs ago and they found infection they went in and removed all hardeware said scare tissue was holding it in place dont put any wait on it. well that was six yrs ago my leg is getting shorter my bones are sliding up one of the other . Does anyone know if stem cell might  work or anything, new in the last eight yrs? I am not ready for them to take my leg yet is there hope?

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

If a fracture has not healed by a maximum of 1-1.5 years, it is unlikely to heal later without any intervention. Percutaneous autologous bone marrow or bone grafting can be tried for non-union. I would suggest seeing an orthopedician for an evaluation and suggestion of an appropriate management plan.
Hope this helps.

Take care!