Treating Fractures in the Field
Lesson 3: Traction Splints
3-1
3-1. FRACTURED FEMUR
When a casualty suffers a complete fracture of the femur, the strong thigh muscles can contract and pull the ends of the fractured bone out of alignment. Once the two fractured ends of the femur are out of alignment, muscle contractions can then cause the fractured bone segments to slip and be side by side. This causes the thigh to "shorten." These fractured ends can damage major blood vessels, nerves, and muscle tissues of the thigh.
