Were do Fractures occur most often in the femur?

How Are they Recognized? Why is this injury considered a medical emergency?

hip fractures are the most common fractures of the femur-the femur being one of the most strongest bones in your body a fracture would indicate osteoporosis, auto accident or cancer of the bone-ANY broken bone should be considered an emergency

it is an emergency because your pelvic bone could also be fractured because it is so close to the femur. They are recognized by not being able to move the leg,and pain in the upper leg.This guy I know fell off of his deck on a dare and broke him femur. It looked painful

Most fractures of the femur occur where the "ball" enters the "socket" of the hip. This is commonly referred to as the neck of the femur. It is the thinest part of the femur and also is under a lot of strain from the pelvis.

As people get older, their bones often become weaker, in part due to calcium leaching from the bones, but also due in part to a decrease in physical activity.

Younger people who sustain injury to this bone often do so because of trauma such as that occuring from car or motor bike accidents.

Commonly fractures of this area are associated with accidental trauma, acute pain, limited movement, swelling, displacement and bruising, although not all of these symptoms need to be present when the injury first occurs.

Fractures of this type often involve a lot of bleeding from the damaged bone, which fills the surrounding tissue and causes further damage.

Apart from the fact that there is mechanical damage which prevents the person walking on their leg (the leg bone is effectivly disconnected from the pelvis), and the bones will not heal if they are misaligned, there is another ongoing risk of fractures of this type (even after surgery to reconnect the bone).
When long bone like this break, small fatty globules are released from the damaged bone. These enter the blood stream and can get caught in areas where the blood vessles narrow, like in the brain. They create symptoms similar to those seen in small strokes, and can make people confused or even aggressive. As the bone heals it prevents anymore of the bone fat escaping.

All of the above facts make fractures of the femur serious injuries.

Hope this helps!