Finding the right tests…
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Emergency services available 24 x 7
Finding the right tests…
X-Ray
A suspected break in the femur, your thigh bone, the largest and strongest bone in the body, is what usually brings someone in for this X-ray. The AP view, from the front, checks alignment and width along the shaft, while the lateral view, from the side, shows the fracture pattern and any bone that's shifted out of line. How much force it typically takes to break this bone depends heavily on age: in younger adults, femoral shaft fractures are mostly linked to high-energy events like motor vehicle collisions, while in older adults with weakened, osteoporotic bone, a simple ground-level fall can be enough to cause the same kind of break.
Both views together cover the femoral shaft along its length, checked for a fracture line, alignment, and any shortening or rotation of the bone. The images typically include the hip and knee joints at either end, since a break can extend toward or affect a neighbouring joint even when the pain is centred on the mid-thigh.
Motor vehicle collisions account for roughly two-thirds of femoral shaft fractures, and this pattern skews toward younger adults involved in high-energy events. In older adults, the picture changes: osteoporosis weakens the bone enough that a simple fall from standing height can cause the same type of fracture that would otherwise need major trauma to produce.
The image is framed to cover the hip and knee joints at either end of the femur, not only the point that hurts, since a shaft fracture can extend toward or affect either neighbouring joint. Skipping that context is one reason a narrowly cropped image isn't considered sufficient on its own.
A confirmed femur fracture is a significant injury regardless of age, and it typically leads straight into a discussion about surgical fixation rather than a cast, since this bone bears too much load to heal reliably without it in most adults. Your doctor will walk you through what your specific film shows.
In younger adults, yes, femoral shaft fractures are usually linked to high-energy events like motor vehicle collisions. In older adults with weakened, osteoporotic bone, a simple fall can be enough to cause the same kind of fracture.
A fracture through the shaft of the femur can extend toward or affect either neighbouring joint, so including both in the image gives a fuller check than a narrowly cropped picture of just the thigh.
Most femur shaft fractures in adults are treated surgically because this bone carries too much load to heal reliably without fixation. Your doctor will explain what your specific fracture pattern needs.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
It's centred on the shaft of the femur rather than the hip joint itself, though the top of the image includes part of the hip. If hip pain is the main concern, a dedicated hip X-ray may be more appropriate.
It's a low, carefully controlled dose for the area imaged. Tell the technologist if you are or might be pregnant, since the thigh sits close to the pelvis.
The imaging itself takes only a few minutes, though positioning may take longer if movement is painful. The technologist will support you through each step.
No, though it's a major contributing factor. Falls, muscle weakness, and reduced bone density together raise the risk in older adults, and your doctor may look into bone health separately if a low-force fracture is confirmed.