A small effect of weight bearing in promoting fracture healing.
We treated 66 consecutive type IV comminuted femoral shaft fractures with static Grosse-Kempf interlocking nails and followed them up for at least 1 year (median 27 months). Although the effect of weight bearing was completely lost, 60 fractures healed primarily without dynamization. We conclude that weight bearing contributes only an auxiliary role in promoting fracture healing, and that the most decisive role is adequate mechanical stability with sufficient nutrition.
Wu
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CC
Chang Gung Medical College, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Shih
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CH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005269:Femur / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D017102:Fracture Healing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016474:Weight-Bearing