Early protected weight bearing in African patients with fractures of the femur.
Among 100 cases of closed fracture of the femur admitted to a Nigerian hospital during the years 1954--71, and treated by skin or skeletal traction, the mean time to clinical union was 6 weeks and to discharge on protected weight bearing 7 weeks. There were no cases on non-union. It is suggested that the traditional recommendation of 12-14 weeks in traction to ensure clinical union of a fracture of the femur should be revised, at least in African patients.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004434:Early Ambulation; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D013997:Time Factors; D014143:Traction; D014945:Wound Healing