From Fracture to Amputation: The Story Told by a Single Femur This femur shows the aftermath of a catastrophic injury. A severe fracture failed to heal, resulting in a non-union where the bone ends never fused back together. Over time, infection set in, osteomyelitis, causing bone destruction and chronic pain. Ultimately, the limb had to be amputated to save the individual’s life. Bones like this reveal a powerful medical history, what the person endured, what treatments were available, and how