The Treatment of Femoral Shaft Fractures by Cast Brace

Kim, Young Joe; Ko, Byung Yong; Maing, Keun Yull; Kim, Seok Chan

Abstract

10 cases of femoral shaft fractures were treated by cast brace during the past 5 years from May, 1975 to August, 1979 at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Korea General and Jae II Hospital, The results were summarized as follows; 1. Of the 10 cases, 8 cases were male and 2 were female, and age distribution was between 14 and 65. 2. 5 cases were treated by cast brace from the start as the primary treatment and the other 5 were by other method initially and followed by cast brace secondarily. 3. One of 5 cases treated by early cast brace developed delayed union and the other one of 5 cases treated by late cast brace secondarily developed non-union, which were treated by open reduction and internal fixation with cancellous bone graft. 4. The cast brace was applied within the first 6 weeks after fracture and average application time was 9. 7 weeks in the cases treated by early cast brace, which was compared with 12.5 weeks in the late cast brace group. 5. Average time of fracture healing was 13.5 weeks in the early cast brace group and 18. 5 weeks in the late cast brace group. 6. In three of 10 cases, counter traction was applied to reduce the limb shortening during bed rest.