title: Delayed internal fixation of femoral shaft fractures--is there an advantage? A review of 320 fractures.
abstract: We have reviewed 402 traumatic fractures of the femoral shaft, 320 of which had been treated by operation and had a long follow-up. Of these, 228 closed fractures and 37 open fractures had been stabilised by plating. There was no significant difference in healing between those stabilised early and those having delayed internal fixation. Re-fracture after removal of the implant occurred more often after early operation. All 55 fractures treated by intramedullary nailing healed and there were no re-fractures after nail removal. We found no correlation between delay before operation and the incidence of postoperative infection.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails; D001860:Bone Plates; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D005596:Fractures, Closed / Q000601:surgery*; D005597:Fractures, Open / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing