I am a 65 year old woman with osteoarthritis (NOT osteoporosis--have good bone density) in knees and back--otherwise in very good health. I was in an auto accident on June 30, 2009, sitting in the back seat. My knee slammed into the back of the driver's seat. It broke my femur a few inches above my knee replacement, which was put in only 6 months previously. It was a very bad break with fragments and a considerable empty space at the break. Surgery involved placement of a plate and screws. After 6 months a CT scan shows it has not healed. I have never had a healing problem in my life (do NOT smoke). My surgeon is a top orthopedic trauma doctor at Hospital for Special Surgery. He says that if it has not healed after 6 months it will not heal. He wants to redo the surgery, removing the plate, putting in a bone graft and new plate. My two questions are: 1. how can I be sure it won't heal eventually without surgery? and 2. Is the bone graft the right way to go or are there other choices? I cant have a rod because they would have to remove/replace my knee replacement, which is below the break, and it was put it only in January, 2009. I have not walked with full weight on my leg since this whole thing started and have not had PT for the past 3 months (doctor's orders). He says there is a risk the plate will break if I keep walking on a broken leg, so I need to make my decision quickly as to surgery. I appreciate your opinion/help greatly. You can imagine my stress level.
This discussion is related to
Angulated fix of femur.