Anatomy
Cylindrical, courses down and in (hips are further apart than knees, more so in female).
Clinical
Shaft is very strong, surrounded by large richly perfused muscles. Takes a lot of force to fracture (spiral, comminuted or open). Displacement of fragments usual (muscles pull); surgery required. Life-threatening blood loss can occur in open fracture; significant bleeding can occur even in closed fracture (more than a litre).
Vignette
“Hip fracture” refers to a fracture of upper femur – head, neck or upper shaft. Femur is longest, strongest bone in body, can support 30 times weight of body.
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