title: Plating of Femoral Shaft Fractures: the Experience in an African Teaching Hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Femoral shaft fractures are common presentation in our trauma units. It is obvious that all these fractures cannot be treated conservatively due to the pressure on trauma beds and thus a suitable method of internal fixation that is feasible in the environment has had to be adopted.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study is a report of our experience with plate fixation of femoral shaft fracture in our environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective hospital based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients with femoral shaft fractures stabilized with plates and screws between 1997 and 2004 at the University College Hospital were reviewed. The case notes were retrieved and data extracted from them; all case notes entry gave sufficient information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fracture pattern showed 56 cases (35.4%) of Type 32-A, 45 cases (28.5%) of Type 32-B and 57 cases (36.1%) of Type 32-C using AO classification. The outcome of treatment was excellent to good in 125 fractures (77.2%). The average time of healing was 20 weeks (range 16-48). Fracture related complications occurred in nine fractures (5.7%) which included deep infection in four fractures (2.5%) and implant failure in five fractures (3.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Femoral shaft plating gives good result if the principles of fixation is carefully followed and in developing countries where initial cost of procurement of equipments for closed nailing may not be forth coming, it thus provide a safe efficient and low cost method of fixation of femoral shaft fracture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University College Hospital and University Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. o_ogunlade@yahoo.com.|Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University College Hospital and University Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. o_ogunlade@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Samuel O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ogunlade
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University College Hospital and University Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Temitope
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alonge
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University College Hospital and University Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bade
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Omololu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adeleke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ifesanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nottidge
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Trauma, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Theophilus
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Diete-Spiff
keywords: Femoral fracture; Plating