What is a key sign of a femur fracture?

A key sign of a femur fracture is that the leg may appear turned outward. This is due to the mechanism of the injury and how the fracture affects the alignment of the bones and muscles in the thigh. When a femur fracture occurs, the placed tension from the muscles surrounding the thigh can lead to external rotation of the leg.

This outward turning is often accompanied by other symptoms, such as significant pain and swelling. Furthermore, the anatomy of the femur and the surrounding muscles tends to naturally cause the leg to rotate outward when a fracture occurs, making this a classic presentation for a femoral injury.

In contrast, options that suggest the leg is turned inward or appears longer than the other are not typical characteristics of a femur fracture and may relate to different types of injuries or conditions. Similarly, a warm leg could suggest circulation issues or infection rather than directly indicating a femur fracture.